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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1994-03-09, Page 22 -TNS HURON 11XFOSITOIR, Marc* e, INN News and Views Amos back for Blyth's 20th season BY DAVID SCOTT Expositor Staf Janet Amos is back. Blyth Festival's Artistic Director from 1979 to 1984 returns once again as Artistic Director for the 1994 sea- son. However, her role at Blyth isn't strictly administrative. Amos will be making a stage appearance in her husband Ted Johns' produc- tion of He Won't Come in From the Barn and she's also collaborating with Anne Chislett on research and writing for the production of Glen- garry School Days. Amos will also direct Glengarry. Amos is excited about this year's line-up at Blyth which also features Bouncing Back by Suzanne Finlay and The Black Bonier of Wullie MacCrimmon by mtemationally acclaimed Canadian author, W.O. Mitchell. The latter play features an actual on-stage curling match. With the exception of W.O. Mitchell, all the playwrights for the 1994 season have staged produc- tions at Blyth Festival in the past. Glengarry School Days and Bounc- ing Back will be world premi8res. He Won't Come in From the Barn premiered at the Blyth Festival in 1977 and returned in 1981, starring Ted Johns. "It was arguably one of the most popular, and certainly the most memorable production in Blyth's twenty-year history, including in the cast a whole barnyard of live ani- mals," according to the Blyth Festi- val. What does this year's line-up offer? "There's a nice balance of differ- ent kinds of plays this year. I think the plays might be more family- oriented this year," said Amos. What sets aside Blyth from other summer festivals? "Not many theatres produce new plays and develop writers. That's a hard thing to do. It's much easier to find a play that's already been successful somewhere and put it on. It's harder to find a good new play and help a writer finish it. I blink that's the most important thing Blyth does," said Amos, who has praise for Blyth audiences. "The audience at Blyth has been very supportive of that (staging new plays) and made it possible. It's a very, very exciting audience that we have here. I think that makes the Blyth Festival different. I don't know that you could do this any- where else. But here I think people St. Columban� by Cecilia Ryan 345-2028 Good Friday bake sale planned The March meeting of the St. Columban Catholic women's League (CWL) was held on Tues- day, March 1, in the rectory meet- ing room. President Karen Ryan opened the meeting with the league prayer. Sister Rita Coyne read a reading from the Bible and reflection. Judy Jansen read the minutes of the last meeting. The correspondence read by Nancy Jordon included "thank - you" cards from the Right to Life, Perth County Children's Aid, the CWL's adopted family in India and parishioners for gifts and flowers. Upcoming events are the annual Good Friday Bake Sale, confirma- tion on May 31 and Diocesan Con- vention on April 26 and 27 at the London Convention Centre. On Thursday evening several ladies from the St. Columban Cath- olic Women's League visited with the residents at the Maplewood Manor in Seaforth. Piano renditions were given by Julianne and Jeanette Crowley, Mandy and Leanne Murray, Erica Murray, Tricia Jansen, Amy Elston and Brian Eckert, step dancing was performed by Jackie and Kelly Cronin and Amanda and Jeremy Ryan played their violins. Patsy Crowley played the piano for a sing -a -long of sev- eral Irish songs. Gladys Ruston, a resident, thanked the ladies and children. Squares and juice were served by the Manor staff. The World Day of Prayer was held in St. Patrick s Church, Dublin on Friday, March 4. The theme, Go, Seek and Act was prepared by the Women's Inter -Church Council of Canada. Ladies and Pastors attended from St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Brodhagen, First Lutheran Church, Logan, St. Columban Cath- olic Church, St. Columban and St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dublin. Father J. Hardy of St. Columban was the guest speaker. A light lunch and social fellowship followed in the church basement. DAVID soorr PEioro WELCOME BACK - Janet Amos, Artistic Director for Blyth Festival, relaxes on the theatre steps on a sunny March morning. Amos returns to Blyth where she was Artistic Director from 1979- 84. Blyth Festival's 20th Anniversary Season opens June 24. enjoy the adventure of finding a good new play and seeing Canadian stories on stage, finding out about their history and that's a unique thing." Blyth Festival's style of new, Canadian plays has been the inspi- ration for other festivals in Canada. "It has inspired other summer theatres to do new work. I know at Port Dover, at the Lighthouse Festi- val they're doing a lot of new work now. And the Upper Canada Play- house in Morrisburg, also is doing exactly the same thing on a slightly smaller scale." Even with Blyth's `new plays' philosophy, this season's line-up is relatively safe with one of the world premieres by Anne Chislett who authored and collaborated on several past Blyth prodactions and who won the Governor General's Award for Quiet in the Land which was staged in 1981 and 1982 at Blyth. Suzanne Finlay (Bouncing Back) is also not a new -comer to theatre, as the Blyth press release reads: "Suzanne Finlay's wild and wacky comedies have entertained audiences across Canada for many years. Her last Blyth production was the world premiere of Gone to Glory in 1986. This is the first year Blyth has staged a play by W.O. Mitchell but he is no stranger to Canadians, having authored many acclaimed novels including Who Has Seen the Wind. He also wrote the popular CBC radio series Jake and the Kid. And He Won't Come in From the Barn is likely to draw crowds because of its past success, rel- evance to the area and attraction of live animals on stage. This line-up makes practical sense with the Blyth Festival carrying a deficit of almost $200,000 after the 1993 season. The operating budget has been trimmed back to about Gat for- At Rice's you'll find a wonderful selection of spring clothing and accessories Kid's SPLASH PANTS Sizes 2-16 $7.00 & $10.00 Children's COVERALLS Sizes 2-16 $25.00 Men's COVERALLS All Sizes to 54 $25.00 & Up Children's & Men's SAFETY WORK BOOTS Starting at $65.00 Men's STRETCH JEANS $27.00 Ladies' 2 Piece Nylon JOGGING SUITS Only $25.00 Men's Hooded SWEAT SHIRTS $25.00 Good Selection of snowmobile mitts & Balaclavas in a variety of sizes & colours Men's Steel Toed RUNNING SHOES $55.00 - $65.00 Men's WORK JEANS $20.00 RICE'S STORE Conc. 12 Hullett Twp. R.R. #1 Blyth 523-4426 Open Daily 9 am - 9 pm Closed Sundays $750,000 from $1.2 million. Janet Amos has seen a lot of the projects she began between 1979-84 continue to grow in het absence. The company touring and work- shops of new plays were developed further by artistic directors who followed. However, Amos said there won't be a touring company' this season. There was thought of taking He Won't Come in From the Barn on the road. "But it would be too complex with the live animals," said Amos. And not likely possible with cutbacks. The physical changes in Blyth are "almost overwhelming," said Amos. The Garage 'Theatre, where the play Web was staged last year, was an actual garage when Amos was here last. "We used to rehearse there -the Festival has bought it and renovated it. I remember rehearsing on top of old pits with flies buzzing around. And there was one old toilet in the back." Part of the current administration space was a bank in the past and Amos' current office used to be a plain room with a small space heater to keep her warm. "It's fabulous to be back. I never would have believed it would be so wonderful. People have been really welcoming," said Amos. She is back among friends who have been with the Blyth Festival from the beginning. "They're the people who really built this theatre. It's wonderful to see them still helping and contribut- ing." New ticket packages The 1994 Blyth Festival season will run from June 24 to Sept. 3 and will include 14 Thursday and Saturday 2 p.m. matinee performances, and 60 evening performances at 8:30, on Mon- day through Saturday evenings. All performances will be on the main stage in the Blyth Memor- ial Hall. This year there is a new Adventure Pack - all four plays for $44. - There is a new lower student rate of $6. The price for pre- views is $9.50, $15 for weekday and matinee performances, and $19.50 for Saturday evenings. Groups of 20 or more may order tickets in advance for $13.50 for weekdays and matinees. For more information contact: Jim Lingerfelr at the Blyth Festi- val - (519) 523-4345. 20th Anniversary Season Line-up Gkngrsrry School Days by Anne Chislett with Janet Amos - based on the novels of Ralph Connor, From June 24 - July 20, 1994. e•• He Won't Come in From the Bans by Ted Johns. Brom June 29 - Sept. 3, 1994. ••• Bouncing Back by Suzanne Finlay. From July 20 - Sept. 3, 1994. • • • The Black Bonsplel of Wullle MacCrimmon by W.O. Mitchell. From Aug. 4 - Sept. 3, 1994. Student exels on music exam Congratulations go to Marianne Vanden Hengel on receiving 77 marks (Honors) in her recent Grade 6 Piano exam from the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto. Marianne's teacher is Ms. Carol Carter. McLaughlin Chev-Olds Ltd. 13 Main St. Seaforth. 527-1140 •Service 'Selection 'Savings •Satisfaction 'Leasing •Complete BODY SHOP Service • REPAIRS • REBUILDING • KEYS RECOVERED • DAMPP CHASERS • REGULATING gRL • BENCHES Bailey's of Hensall Ltd. Heating - Air Conditioning Hwy. 04 N. 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