HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-08-30, Page 27THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2000. PAGE 27.
Entertainment Leisure
Theatre review
‘Reaper’ calls, audience answers
Telling an officer’s tale
Intense discussion
On stage at Blyth Festival until Sept. 9 are Shaun Clarke and Kate Hemblen in When the
Reaper Calls, a comic mystery by Peter Colley, remounted this year after a its major debut last
John Blackwood, left, and Gil Garrett, members of this sea
son’s Blyth Festival cast, spent Friday afternoon entertain
ing the audience at The Garage in Blyth as they held a read
ing of Keith Roulston’s play McGillicuddy.
HELPIHG THE WORLD
Season. (Off Broadway Photogra,
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
I am a big fan of Peter Colley. And
I am not alone. The sell-out success
of his When the Reaper Calls during
last year’s Blyth Festival season war
ranted a remounting this year.
And despite venue and cast
changes it hasn’t lost any of its
appeal.
This year’s Reaper made its
appearance not in the intimate setting
of The Garage but rather on the main
stage. The transition comes off with
out a blemish in the’ performance’s
quality.
The story takes place in a remote
cottage. Victor, a philosophy profes
sor is determined to show his col
league Harlan, a stoic, that every
man has the capability to murder.
Also along are their respective
wives, Dora, who believes her hus
band is having an affair, and Colleen
craving affection and getting none
from her bookish spouse.
What transpires as Victor begins to
put his plan into action makes for a
delightful mix of suspense and fun.
Real-life husband and wife Derek
Boyes and Arlene Mazzerolle, are
new to the roles of husband and wife
Victor and Dora. Boyes shows won
derful comic timing. His somewhat
wry delivery is perfect for the ideal
list turned hedonist.
Mazzerolle as his frustrated wife,
manic one moment, diabolical the
next, handles her mood swings well.
Shawn Clarke as this season's
Harlan manages to play the role
of a cold fish with some dignity.
Back as Colleen is Kate Hemblen
whose effervescence gives the char
acter a sweet ingenuousness with
enough intelligence to stop short of
flakiness.
Back to direct this top-notch pro
duction is Eric Coates. He keeps the
play moving swiftly, not allowing it
to become bogged down in the heavy
dialogue or being too heavy-handed
with the humour, instead letting the
comedy speak for itself.
And this is much to the audience’s
delight. Despite its sinister implica
tions and somewhat morbid theme,
Reaper is quite funny. With very real
characters, much of its humour
comes from human fallibility or
weakness, thus making it easy for
everyone to relate.
It is also the type of comedy that
neither hits you on the head, nor
insults you. The script is intelligent,
well-crafted and the humour subtle,
the type of everyfolk wit that steals
in to tickle you when you least
expect it.
And it is that that makes Colley’s
work so enjoyable. He tells a story
everyone can understand while nei
ther talking down to or up to his
audiences.
People at Blyth have enjoyed his
work since his greatest success
decades ago I'll Be Back Before
Midnight. Those who tried to see
Reaper last year and couldn’t get
tickets needn’t feel they’ve missed a
thing. Blyth’s 2000 edition is as
good, maybe better.
But once again, to see it. I believe
you had better hurry. When the
Reaper Calls at Blyth Festival, peo
ple answer.
WRITE HOW
CODE
Self-sufficiency through
literacy in the developing world
For information, call 1-800-661-2633
£,19^ a. demerit
(Lttnauncemeni
Haulin (Candy) Fung,
daughter of
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Mr. Yun Kwan Fung
from Hong Kong
and
Timothy Webster
son of
David Webster and the
late Ruth Webster
from Blyth
wish to announce their
wedding taking place
September 2, 2000 at
Blyth Trinity Anglican Church.
Open reception to follow at
Auburn Community Hall
at 9 p.m.
Join in the fun of
dancing to fiddle music,
country western, Celtic and pop.
■CLOGGING LESSONS
Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced
Adults and Children
NEW BEGINNERS
WELCOME!
Vanastra classes
commencing Sept. 11-12
Godeiich classes
commencing Sept. 13
■LINE DANCING LESSONS
Intermediate Adults
Vanastra classes commencing
September 11,2000
For more information
Norma Preszcator
<519)482-3141
Comic duo
Tim Conway and Don Knotts will
be looking back on Sunday, Sept. 24
at The Centre in the Square,
Kitchener. Tickets for this unique
performance went on sale Monday,
Aug. 28.
Conway’s television career has
spanned over 35 years. He is most
proud of the I I years that he
appeared on the Carol Burnett Show,
for which he won four Emmy
Awards.
Knotts, star of 19 motion pictures,
his own television variety series. The
Don Knotts Show and several spe
cials, is no stranger to comedy. He
has appeared or many memorable
television series including The Andy
Griffiths Show that made him a
household name and won him five
comes to Centre stage
Emmys as well as being a regular on
the hit series Three's Company.
Tickets are $69, $59 and $49 each.
To order call The Centre’s Box
Office at 5 19-578-1570 or toll free l -
800-265-5977.
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Sat., Sept. 9
at the BMG Community
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Music by DJ
9.00 to 1:00
Lunch provided
Age of majority
Tickets $5.00
Call Kandice 887-2677
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