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BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16. 2004. PAGE 19
Then and now: Festival growth statistics
For those involved in the Blyth
Festival since its inaugural season, it
seems both a long time and a short
time ago. There's no doubt, however.
that many things have changed over
the years.
Back in 1975 opening night wasn't
until July 9. This year's opening is
June 18 with previews beginning
June 16. (Previews are another
change, opening night was the first
public performance of a play in the
early years.)
There were 16 performances in
that first season (plus a benefit.
performance of The Farm Show).
This year there will be 82
performances. actually a reduction
from the more than 100 in 1989,
followed by a lengthy tour.
Two plays made up the first
season, the "risky" local play Mostly
in Clover. adapted from the books of
Harry J. Boyle and the "sure" The
Mousetrap by Agatha Christie.
In 2004, six plays make up the
schedule for the 30th season.
The total company including full-
time administrative and box office
staff, actors, directors and
technicians this year numbers 70. In
1975 there were two technicians,
four paid actors and one writer-
director-dramaturge. That figure
didn't include James Roy founding
artistic director and Anne Chislett,
administrator and box office
manager. Neither of them drew a
salary that first year and indeed still
weren't being paid much when they
left five years later.
The actors that first summer were
not part of Actors' Equity, the actors'
union so they rehearsed Mostly In
Cl-over during -the day and turned
around and rehearsed The Mousetrap
at night when community actors
were available to fill out the large
cast.
By the second season the company
was hiring Equity actors so the
rehearsal hours weren't so long but
actors were still putting in long
seasons with roles in several plays.
The workload reached a peak in
1977 when actor Layne Coleman
played in every one of the four
plays.
Today actors generally are in two
of the six plays, leaving them rested
to do their best work. They may also
take part in workshops to develop
Memories
The day
of the
money
Marian Doucette was president of
the Festival board from 1986-89 and
still remembers the day when the
board got the announcement that
they had been approved for federal
and provincial funding for the last
expansion of the Festival.
"The board and the community
worked so hard to get that funding
and when we did, we were thrilled."
She said she also remembers the
day when she read in Chatelaine
magazine, that Blyth Festival had
made the top 10 theatres to see in
Canada.
Three of 'the most memorable
plays for Doucette are Cake-Walk
written by Colleen Curran, Mail
Order Bride by Robert Clinton and
Girls in the Gang by John Roby and
Raymond Storey. -
Every chance she gets she goes to
the theatre, but tries not to miss any
productions.
new scripts for coming seasons, once
they're finished with rehearsals.
Budget for the first season was
$9,000, less than the weekly payroll
for the Festival in the summer
months. Today the budget is $1.2
million.
That first season people sat on
wooden seats with ancient varnish
that became tacky in the heat of the
theatre which .had no air
conditioning. Air conditioning was
added in the late 1970s and in recent
years the wooden seats (which were
padded and upholstered in 1991)
were replaced with modern theatre
seats. Some rows were also removed
to increase leg room.
Memories
Carol Irwin remembers meeting
"all the wonderful partners and
celebrities who came through" the
Blyth Festival during her time as
president from 1989 - 91.
"I really enjoyed meeting people
through all kinds of walks of life."
She also remembers the building
of the new carpentry, scenic and
props shops and the "link" between
Of course with inflation and
growth, ticket prices have risen too.
In 1975 you could see one play for
$2.50, or both for $4.50.
This season you could have bought
a pack of vouchers to be exchanged
for four tickets midweek for $68 -
$17 each prior to May I. Many
people, however, would rather pay
more to see plays from the
"preferred" section at the centre of
the theatre and on weekends, paying
$100 for four tickets. Single tickets
for the preferred section on
weekends cost $29.50. People also
snapped up tickets for the All Day
Donnellys performances for $75
including supper.
the Blyth Festival and Memorial
Hall which holds the new lobby,
Bainton Art Gallery and box office.
Irwin said she loved all the plays
from the. Blyth Festival, but Another
Season's Promise, The Outdoor
Donnellvs and the Drawer Boy were
her favourite because "they are all
different yet you can relate to them
all."
Remembering partners
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