HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-06-28, Page 1414-TH[ HURON IXPO$ITOR, June ZS, 1995
Ballad opens Blyth season
By HEATHER BOA
Signal -Star Staff
Ballad FFr a Rum Runner's
Daughter is a poignant romance
story sprinkled with music and
magic, daubed with colourful
costumes, and finally, melded
with an ingenious backdrop.
The production, which pre-
miered as the season opener of
the Blyth Festival on Friday, is
destined to be one of the finest
harvested by this theatre, whose
mandate is to promote
Canadian works.
Playwright Laurie Fyffe, (for
whom two other works, Bush
Fire ('87) and A Field of
Flowers ('90), premiered at the
Blyth Festival) has written a
tale of rum -running on the
south shores of Nova Scotia
during the 1930s Prohibition
Era. Much of the information
she gleaned from stories told by
her own mother and relatives,
who grew up on the east coast.
Many who are familiar with
plot of Charles Dickens' A
Christmas Carol, will have no
trouble following this story.
On the of eve of Vivian's
(Randi Helmers, who some may
remember as Wild Mary in
Colours in the Storm, the story
of Canadian artist Tom
Thompson) birthday she is vis-
ited by Granuaile (Angela
Fusco), a delightfully flamboy-
ant pirate queen from Vivian's
childhood games, dressed in a
flowing, lace -edged blouse, sea -
blue vest and skirt that looks a
bit like it was fashioned by a
mermaid, and a black bucca-
neer's hat atop flowing yellow
hair as pale as undyed mar-
garine.
She is transported to a num-
ber of scenes from her past, and
confronted with misunderstand-
ings, mistakes and misfortunes.
Lawn bowlers
in Seaforth
host night of
friendship
The Seaforth Lawn Bowling
Club held a.friendship night at
the greens on Friday evening
June 23 when new bowlers or
those interested in lawn
bowling could try the game of
lawn bowls. There were forty
present and following bowling
hot dogs were barbecued and
strawberry shortcake served.
.We hope all new bowlers
enjoyed themselves and learned
a little about the game of Lawn
Bowls.
Each year during June
students from the schools
spend several days at the
Seaforth Greens. On June 14,
Grade 12 students from
Seaforth District High School
played a two -game tournament.
The winners were Jill Wood
and Jason Murray with 2w+23
points. It was great to see the
enthusiasm and energy of these
young people and hope they
will decide to become lawn
bowlers.
The Seaforth Investment
Centre were sponsors of a
mixed pairs. tournament in
Seaforth on Saturday, June 24
starting at 10 a.m. Winners of
the tournament were Jack and
Audrey McDonald of Lucknow
with 3w+45. Second prize went
to Tom Phillips and Thelma
Coombs of the home club with
3w+40. Third place went to
Jack and Mary Fisher also of
Lucknow with 3w+35.
Lcc Ryan and Carol Cartcr
placed fourth with 2w+39op13.
Fifth went to Cliff Ashton and
Mary Colson of the Clinton
Club with 2w+38. Sixth was
George and Darlene Woods of
St. Mary's with 2w+37op4.
Seventh was another Lucknow
entry of Hap Hall and Jane
Treleaven with 2w+36. Eighth
place was Ross Pepper and
Frances Tuir of Mitchell with
2w+34. Consolation prize went
to Tom and Jean Wilson of
Forest with 14 points in their
last game.
Seaforth Lawn Bowling
members wcrc saddened to
learn of the sudden passing of
one of thcir members last week
namely Oliver Pryce. Our
sympathy gots out at this time
to his wife Thelma and family.
Oliver and his twin sister Olive
wcrc familiar figures at many
tournaments and Oliver's
presence will be greatly missed
in the community.
Five teams wcrc in Mitchell
on Sunday at the Bill Ducklow
memorial tournament. Due to
showers in the afternoon the
tournament was cancelled and
rescheduled for Sunday, August
20 at 10 a.m.
BLYTII FESTIVAL PIIOTO
BLYTH FESTIVAL OPENS - The Blyth Festival opened this
month with a premiere performance of Ballad for a Rum
Runner's Daughter starring Ted Atherton, as RCMP office*
Thomas Stark and Trish O'Reilly as Clare.
But the story is only faintly
reminiscent of Dickens' classic
tale. This one has a distinct life
of its own, full of bold charac-
ters: like Clare (Trish O'Reilly,
who's unruly auburn hair and
impish face only adds to the
part), a feisty tempest who
craves the adventures and mys-
teries of the sea; Thomas Stark
(Ted Atherton) the "red feath-
ered, yellow -bellied, Upper
Canada hummingbird," more
commonly known as an RCMP
officer; Willis (Michael
Healey), who's "too kind to feel
anything"; Jack Tanner (Jerry
Franken) a 'revolutionary' boot-
legger; and even Vivian, the
judgmental, disapproving
daughter, sister and wife.
Director Janet Amos has
taken up Fyffe's challenging
story, which is interspersed by
three on-stage musicians in
jeans and simple turtlenecks
dyed sea -blue, and given it con-
tinuity and the strength of a fan-
tastically talented cast, with
matching musical ability.
And composer Beth Bartley
has given airy, light east coast
rhythm to Fyffe's original lyrics
and other traditional music.
Bartley and her husband,
Mark Clifford, both of Vox
Violins, are coming off the road
to perform for the first time at
the Blyth Festival. She has also
taken time away from the CD
Blyth drama workshops
Children's Drama Workshops
will be led again this year at
the Blyth Festival by Rachel
Thompson (and by Young
Company Alumni members).
The workshops will be
centering on myths, legends
and fairy talcs; these stories
will be assisted with
movement, mask work,
costumes, puppetry and of
course acting techniques.
The Workshops run from
Thursday, June 29 to Friday,
GRADUATION
Angela Lynn Smith
Darcy Smith proudly
announces the graduation of
his wife Angela from
Fanshawe College In the top
of her class with a diploma in
Municipal Administration and
Assessment with a certificate
in Real Estate Appraisal from
the University of British
Columbia. Angela Is the
daughter of Les Bernard of
Winthrop and Pat
Schellenberger of Bomholm.
Angela Is currently employed
at Mckillop Township
Municipal Office in Winthrop.
Congratulations from your
husband and family. We are
very proud of the work you
have done.
Joe and Angeline Burns
(Ju 2, 1955)
'LOTS OF LOVE'
From: Frank & Claudette,
Chris, Colleen, Kyle &
Jenne, Brien, Dianne, Tyler
and Brisnne, Dean and
Vicky.
July 7 (Saturday and Sunday
excepted). There will be per-
formance for parents, family
and friends on Saturday, July
8. Registration for the work-
shops will take place on.
Wednesday, June 28 in front of
the theatre in Blyth - 5 to 8
year olds 9 a.m. to 12:00 noon,
and 9 to 12 year olds 1 p.tn. to
4 p.m. Registration fee is S15
per child.
For further information call
Rachel Thompson at 523-4345.
HOEGY
1
Curs Homy
Maynard and Lynn
Hoegy are pleased to
announce the graduation of
their son, Chris, from the
university of Waterloo on
May 27, 1995. Chris
received an Honours
Bachelor of Science degree
in Mechanical Engineering.
Chris previously attend-
ed Upper Thames
Elementary School and
Mitchell District High
School.
Congratulations, Chris,
and Best Wishes from your
family and friends!
GRADUATION
Margaret McLeod Wong, R.N., B.A.
Dick and Elizabeth are relieved
to announce that their wife and
mother has finally graduated
from U.W.O.
Margaret received her B.A.
(Anthropology) on June 6 after
13 years of winter driving and
'DO NOT DISTURB' signs.
Margaret thanks Dick for his
patience and encouragement,
Elizabeth for her encouragement
and library work, Pat and Brenda
for their encouragement and
support, and her mother, Mary
McLeod, for her encouragement
and Inspiration.
Now to find someone to teach
her how to speak Dutch.
release entitled Playing with
Polvwogs in the River of Life to
work on the play.
Unlike other productions that
take time out in the story for a
musical number, all the music
is part of a continuous flow in
Ballad for a Rum Runner's
Daughter. The story eases its
way into the music and contin-
ues along into the dialogue.
The set, designed by Stephan
Droege, immediately draws the
audience into the play, as many
enter into the theatre through
the sides of balconies. A faded
and streaked mast, nearly con-
sumed by the four points of a
compass emblazed across its
front, dominates the stage.
Posts wrapped with heavy rope,
barrels, pulleys, and a polished
anchor give an urgent sense of
seaside presence. In more prac-
tical terms, it looks like a navi-
gator's nightmare, with two sets
of stairs and sponge rocks that
yield to an actor's footsteps, yet,
miraculously, no one trips on
this opening night.
Finally, the costumes, fash-
ioned by former Stratford
Festival designer Debra
Hanson, give a magical, fun -
loving quality to the produc-
tion, notably: a young Hirum
attired in a polka dot bow tie,
plaid knee-highs, and yellow
shorts; a young Clare dressed in
jean, bibbed overalls, looking
like Pippy Longstocking; and,
of course, Granuaile, as men-
tioned before.
Ballad For A Rum Runner's
Daughter runs at the Blyth
Festival until July 21. Tickets
are available at the box office,
(519) 523-9804.
Happy 15'h
Birthday
Barbie Lynn Kenney
°Gotcha°
June 29, 1995
(.ove: Your family+
Happy 40th
Birthday
Mike Meidinger
"Gotcha Big Time"
July 4, 1995
Happy 1° Birthday
June 23
COURTNEY JANMAAT
Wedding
VAN DEN NEUCKER - GROUGROU
Kristine Rose Van Den Neucker of London and Andrew Nicholls
Grougrou of Montreal, Quebec were united in marriage on Saturday,
May 6, at 3:30 p.m. at Port Nelson United Church in Burlington.
Kristin's matron of honor was Kara Reed of Toronto, sister of the
bride. The bride's attendants were Missy Gibbings of Clinton, cousin
of the bride and Debbie Lockey of Brantford, cousin of the bride.
The groom's best man was David McLeish of Bowmanville, friend
of the groom. The groom's attendants were Gary Grougrou of
Toronto, brother of the groom, and Scott Nevin of Kitchener, friend
of the groom. The candle lighting was done by Kevin Van Den
Neucker of Clinton, brother of the bride. A reading was read by
Beverly Byrne of Ottawa, cousin of the groom. The soloists were
Lori and Lisa Strong of London, friends of the bride. Cocktails,
dinner and a reception was held at the Delta Meadowvale in
Mississauga. The couple honeymooned in the South of France and
Paris, France. They now reside in Burlington.
Graduation
Mark Vogels
Cinth and Maria Vogels
proudly announce the
graduation of their son, Mark,
from Conestoga College
Kitchener, on June 24, 1995.
Mark received his
Construction Engineering
Technology Diploma. He
previously attended $t.
Columban Elementary
School and St. Michael
Secondary in Stratford.
Mark is currently employed
with Fred Groenestege
Construction Ltd.,
Sebringville.
Congratulations Mark from all
of your family and Maridale.
GRADUATION
Chris Vogels
Cinth and Maria Vogels proudly
announce the graduation of their
son, Chris, from Sir Wilfred
Laurier University, Waterloo, on
May 26, 1995. Chris received his
Bachelor of Business
Administration, Honours degree.
He previously attended St.
Columban Elementary School
and St. Michael Secondary
School in Stratford. Chris is
currently employed with Coca-
Cola Bottling in Stratford.
Congratulations Chris from all of
your family and Jennifer.
GRADUATION
Niki Phillips
Welcome back to Huron
County after graduating with
Honours from George Brown
College in Toronto with a
diploma in becoming an
Intervenor for the Deaf -Blind.
Niki is currently employed at
Archie's UPI for the sixth year,
BUT will begin her career at
the Waterloo Rotary Children's
Centre in Sept. of this year.
Yehl Nikl
Proud parents are Gord and
Deb Phillips, Egmondville
Graduation
Scott Kitchin
Scott Kitching of R.R.07 t.
Mary's graduated from
Algonquin College, Ottawa
with a diploma in Radio
Broadcasting.
Scott has accepted a
position with CJCS,
Stratford.
Congratulations from Mom
& Dad, (Brenda & Jim)
Mark, Tim & Carla
Also Grandma Florence
Nesbitt, Clinton & Grandpa
Kitching of Woodstock.
I. GRADUATION r
ANNE ROBINSON
daughter of Bob & Rose
Robihson R.R. #4 Walton,
graduated June 10, 1995
from Nippissing University,
NORTH BAY, ONT. with a
BACHELOR OF
EDUCATION DEGREE.
She has accepted a teaching
position in Grassy
Narrows, Ontario.
Congratulations Anne from
your family and friends.
t �
/ Sunday -Thursday
INTER -TRACK WAGERING
' SATURDAY AFTERNOONS!
' OPEN SUNDAY AT 5 PM
' RACING HOIIDAY MONDAY AT 1 PM
Saturday, July 1
HOUSE VJ