HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-07-06, Page 18metown illuminates
hat "home" can b
Lyth production highlights six
ifferent' plays
t estival's "Hometown" Tickles the Funny Bone—
ches the Heart
olyn Parks Mintz
hen I thought the Blyth Festival Theatre couldn't get
fir -=-the company whips- something else out of its
theatrical hat.
orld premiere of "Hometown," first of Blyth's four ..
vs this summer, opened on June 24 and is a stellar
tart the season.
etown" has something for every� yne-literally. Itis
plays, site of several _la , each of which "illuminates what
can be with all its emotion, memories, and
time ago, Director Peter Smith approached Eric
:Artistic Director -at Blyth, about his idea to ask a
of writers from across Canada to compose mini
sed on experiences in their hometown. Qbviously
a great idea.
playwrights Jean -Marc Dalpe, Mieko Ouchi, Man-
son, Martha Ross, Peter Smith and Des Walsh have
sic plays that stand alone and yet blend perfectly
melange of the whole.
avid Archibald, Ryan.. Bondy, Marion Day, Kira
`foray Munch and Phil Poirier are the talented cast
suited to bring these scripts to life:
here are the technical requirements of staging this
something that's incredibly demanding. How-
e skilled crew pulled itoff-except for one tiny
ugh it wasn't much of a distraction, at one point a
trtain failed to completely fall from the flyspace to
)rr.ies. The talented actors improvised around it
Ilv, whichonly added to the _comedy of the scene.
aracters of "Hometown" are a varied and colourful
typicallx self-absorbed teenager, a stalwart fisher
ragmatic Newfoundlander, two young guys testing
title, a resentful son who is the husband within a
ncorne/No Kids couple, his long-suffering mother,
tempting to illustrate and impress upon his kids'(in
yard) an important historical event, a tough guy
adolescent boys, a couple of guys in a nunnery, an
single father in Alberta, his sons, and a madcap
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The play's Music Director, David Archibald, has com-
posed original music that is positively spot-on fotr4nterludes
within the vignettes—witty or moving, with wonderful mel-
odies and lyrics—which he capably performs solo and with
members of the cast.
"Homecoming's" musical moments even include a cover
of a hit song by The .Band. ,
Nicholas Beardsley, Stephen Hildebrand, Shannon Pitre,
Genevieve Pitre, filmy Thompson and Taylor Watson make
up the Children's Chorus and bring an enthusiastic vibrancy
to the music and acting of the last scene.µ
Your reviewer had an opportunity to chat with two of the
actors while Hometown was in rehearsal.
Marion Day, who recently appeared in innocence Lost
and The Book of Esther at Blyth, reportedthat she was par-
ticularly impressed with thewriting.
"The plays are all really different and subjective," says
Day, "And they pack an emotional punch"
'There is a magic realism in the piece by Martha Ross,"
she goes on. "The last scene entitled "The Bog" explores
what's true and what's fiction in memories and does this in
an extraordinarily comic ways."
Tony Munch;who has performed in Toronto, Ottawa and
Calgary in thepast, plays older men of different ages from
all walks of life in "Hometown,"
"The challenges: for us as actors were the distinctly differ-
ent writing styles within six different plays," he reports.
"`ItTterent in all that, and somewhat surprising, was the
discovery of our feelings about where we came from. -
Both actors recognized the universality and individuality
of what one's hometown represents.
As Director Peter Smith found out, hometown is about
friendship, and as the teen -aged character "Thea" learned,
"Home Is complicated."
Take in this wonderful montage of Canadian life—and
decide what "home" means to you.
'Hometown" runs until August 7
Tickets 1.877=-8862-5984 or 519423-9300
www.theblytIffesetival.com
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Blyth Festival seeks youth
for revival of musical hit
The Myth Fes ' : , invites all interested youth to Join the
2011 Young Comp.: ny for a revival of the musical hit,
Alligator Teats by : ' Johnson. An orientation session will
be held at Blyth M orial Comrntinity Hall on Thursday,
July 7from loam. -12pm.
For the first time In Blyth Festival history, the Young
Company will perform on the theatre's mainstage - an
exciting opportunity for youth Interested in theatre. The
Young Company offers students aged 13 to 19 the opportu-
nity to workshop, design and rehearse a play under the
professional direction of Rebecca Picheraek. There are no
registradon fees and all interested individuals are welcome.
Dates for the Young Company workshop are August 8 -
September 3. The production will run September 1- 3 at
Blyth Memorial Community Flan. ,
For more Infonnadon on the Blyth Festival Young Coni -
pang or to register for the summer workshop, visit www.
blythfestival.com or call 519-523-9300/1-877-862-5984.
The Young Company is supported by CIBC, the 1bwnfhip
of North Huron and the McCreary -f uhasz Young Company
Director's Fund establishei by Dr, Anne Juhasz to provide
interested youth with professional there dlrecdon.
Goderich
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