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Goderich Signal Star, 2011-11-09, Page 17final -Star • Wednesday, November 9, 2011 ea artists plan Spotlight on Goderich variety show m'estival joins with other 1 watres to help rebuild own 'iratiord Shakespeare Festival «iuing forces with other leading b s of the professional theatre inity to present Spotlight on -h: A Variety Show at the Huron v Playhouse in Grand Bend on November 20th at 3:00 p.m. All roceeds will be designated to the Way Perth -Huron for tornado Orfs in Goderich and area. Idea was conceived by John on, former Member of.Provin- tiainent for Perth -Wellington. Alex Mustakas, Attistic Director of l)r.►vtou Inter tainment, will spearhead the fundraising event alongside artistic leaders from the Stratford Shake- speare Festival, Shaw Festival, 13luewate.r Summer Playhouse, Myth Festival, The Grand Theatre, Star- bright Christmas, Theatre Aquarius, Victoria Play- house Petrolia, Theatre Orangeville, Lighthouse Fes- tival Theatre., and others. All featured artists, administration staff, and behind -the -scenes pro- duction crew will donate their time to bring this worthy fundraiser to the stage. "The variety show promises to be wonderful, says General Director Antoni Cirolino. "We are blessed to have so many talented and generous artists in our midst. I'm Also grateful to Alex Mustakas for leading this fundraising effort to help our friends and neigh- bours in Goderich:' "Our thoughts have been with our neighbours in Goderich ever since this catastrophe struck," says GODERICH AREA Disaster Relief Committee Financial HeIp Available! Apply Now! ery homeowner, tenant, small business owner, farmer and non - At organization affected by the tornado is eligible to receive ancial assistance to cover up to 900k of approved expenses ated to tornado damage not covered by insurance. Dtect your right to financial assistance by delivering your plication to the 3rd floor of Goderich Town Hall by 4:00 p.m. on day November 25, 2011 even if you do not have complete ancial informationwith respect to your claim or financial tiement with your insurance company. Additional information iy • be addstd to your fileas you receive it from your insurance mpany. 1 sistance is available from the Disaster Relief Committee rff to help you complete the application form by telephoning 9.524.4441. Evening appointments available. plications forms are available at municipal offices, )derich Public Library and online at www.goderich.ca or vw.huroncounty.ca Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Committee Goderich Town Hall, 3rd Floor 57 West Street, Goderich, ON N7A 2K5 519.524.4441 www.goderichandareadisasterrelief.org Ai tistic Director Des \icAnuff. "We're very grateful to have this opportunity to support them as they rebuild their community, and we look forward to working with so many of our fellow artists on what 1 know will be an outstanding event" Ai The impact and devastation continues to be felt months after, and it is our job to assist in any way we can." — Ryan Erb, Executive Director for United Way Perth -Huron. This one -of -a -kind variety show will fea- ture singing, dancing, and comedy routines from some of Canada's finest professional theatrical talent. Neil Aitchison, a popular Master of Cere- monies throughout Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington County, will bring his trademark brand of humour to the stage as he pilots this fabulous afternoon of first-class entertainment. "The most powerful tornado to hit the prov- ince in years swept through the town of Goderich on Sunday, August 21st, devastat- ing the picturesque community on the shores 'of Lake Huron. Downtown busi- nesses, usi-nesses, century -old buildings, and several churches lost their roofs and upper floors as the twister ripped through the town causing millions in damage. 'The impact and devastation continues to be felt months after, and it is our job to assist in any way we can, says Ryan Erb, Executive Director for United Way Perth -Huron: --7 Admission for this star-studded benefit performance is $50.00, and includes a $25.00 tax receipt. Tickets can be purchased exclu- sively through the Drayton Entertainment Box Office at (519) 238-6000 or toll free at 1-855-372-9866. Donations may be made direct to United Way Perth -Huron by phone: 1-877-818-8867 (toll-free) or online: www. perthhuron.unit- edway.ca, or e-mail: campaign@unitedway- perthhuron.ca For more information, please visit; www. stratfordfestiva l.ca Former Goderich man recalls attending Victoria Opera House Interested to know what it was like inside Goderich's Victoria Opera House? Dominique Milburn Goderich Signal -Star You're not alone. Sadly, very few images of the theatre exist during its operation, and even fewer residents can recall taking in a show. Few, sure, but there is one. Doug Mid- dleton was born here in Goderich January 25, 1915. The. spry 96 -year-old Oakville resi- dent says he was perhaps 12 -years -old when he took in a variety piece in what he Ai I recall a big storm and the roof started to lift. One of the McLean brothers was up a ladder trying to rope it down. He certainly was injured, may have even been killed:' — Doug Middleton described as "an old dusty theatre." "There were side steps at either end of the stage. The shows at that time were put onby a chap from Montreal. 1 can't remember his name, but he was a sort of handsome fellow who sang lead and organized shows with local talent. His leading lady at that time was Mrs. Frank Saunders. Middleton says much of the details are fuzzy, but says the particular show he can recall featured ''Indian garb" and the male lead's powerful baritone voice. He estimated the interior might have seated around 300 people. Later on as a teen, Middleton says "local fellows put on a song and dance show with the senior members of the high school: "There was George Jenner, manager of the movie house on West Street and his buddy Dave Henry. They were quite active in that type of thing." Middleton says he remembers that show for one main reason, his sweetheart, Mr. Jen- ner's daughter, was in the production. One other hazy memory comes to mind for Middleton, and it involves a powerful storm that threatened the Victoria. "1 recall a big storm and the roof started to lift. One of the McLean brothers was up a ladder trying to rope it down. He certainly was injured, may have even been killed." Doug Middleton lives with his wife in a retirement community in Oakville. He says as a youngman he and his churn Jim Reddit took on the "only two jobs in town,* Reddit as a teenage sport reporter for the local newspaper and Middleton a position with the Royal Bank. Neither, he can recall, car Tied a salary. "Jim got 50 cents a trip for expenses" Middleton stayed with 'The Royal Bank for 40 years until his retirement. "Pretty soon 1,11 he on pension longer than 1 worked," Middleton added. ''I've got a lot of stories!