HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-07-26, Page 13Hutt charms his audience again
., BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
Those who consider Merry
Wives of Windsor one of
Shakespeare's less important
plays should see the current
production at the Stratford
Festival: They will find •a light
farce which is rich with
endearing characters and full of
vibrant humour.
The star of Meiry Wives, and
star is no clichd when applied
to this actor, is William Huu.
As Sir John Falstaff, Hutt is a
true treasure. Who but . Hutt
could create sympathy for such
a scoundrel as Sir John and
convey dignity to the conniving
old Knight?
The applause started as soon
as Hutt graced the stage and it
was followed at the end of the
_performance by a standing
ovation.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
is set in a `Victorian' time
period more conducive to
Dickens than Shakespeare.
I can't explain why the
Stratford Festival insists on
changing the Elizabethan set-
tings of Shakespeare's plays to
more contemporary times. This
may once have been clevWand
daring but is now, in my mind,
trite.
In a post -performance dis-
cussion actress Chick Reid said
Director Richard Monette felt
the sexual farce worked even
better 'in prudish `Victorian'
times. It seems outlandish to
expect that the actions of saucy
Sir John Falstaff in Merry
Wives would have been
indulged in Victorian times.
Regardless, even those purists
who might argue with the
setting will enjoy the rapid-fire
exchanges of wit and well -
executed farce.
The only criticisms of Merry
Wives are bits of nit-picking.
For instance, one or two of the
actors have lacklustre voices
which pale in comparison to
the performances of the leads.
Hutt's tour de force as.
Falstaff leaves one asking,
where is the fine young talent
which will be seen at the Festi-
val in future years?
Tim MacDonald is one of the
actors whose performance
would be more at home in a
community theatre production
than one of the top
Shakespearean stages of the.
world. Last year, in reviewing
Othello, I had this to say about
MacDonald:
William Hutt
...amazing as uaual.
"He runs around uncontrol-
lably, turning his head and
hollering as if a blood vessel is
going to burst in his brain."
MacDonald applies equal
subtlety tohis role of Abraham
Slender in Merry Wives.
The most entertaining per-
formances -in :this
Shakespearean comedy come
from old veterans like Hutt and
Barry MacGregor and Barbara
Bryne as an endearing Mistress
Quickly.
One of the bright lights
among the young talent was
Tom McCamus as Frank Ford.
Unlike MacDonald, McCamus
knew when to be understated
and when to be more intense in
his portrayal of the paranoid,
anally -retentive Ford.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
is a triumph of pace and comic
timing. Right from the start
there was evidence of clever,
light touches to this old farce.
There are beautifully -chor-
eographed bits of slapstick and
physical humour to keep the
production humming along.
One of the nice touches to
Merry Wives was when the
audience was greeted by cast
members, in• full costurne,
singing songs outside the the-
atre prior to the show's begin-
ning.
The July 13 performance was
attended by former Canadian
prime minister John Napier
Turner.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
runs from May 8 to October 29
at the Festival Theatre in
Stratford.
New Ted Johns' play spoofs local govemment
BY BLAKE PATTERSON
Advocate Staff .
He doesn't mention any names, but Mitchell native Ted
Johns says his new play Jake's Place is a thank -you and a
"Howdy -do" to Mitchell for giving him some small town per-
spective. And without taking any shots at Mayor Hugh
McCaughey or town council (remember, no names are men-
tioned), he said he hopes the Mitchell people who attend the
play in Blyth will find his spoof
on small town governm ii just
close enough to the truth to be
interesting and funny.
As described in the playbill,
Jake's Place is set in a small
hamlet in Huron County and is
about how one man's battle to
get a driveway to his ram-
shackle house on the edge of
town leads him into the "conun-
drum of town politics." It is an
acclaimed town council
because nobody else wanted to
run for office, and when Jake is appointed o replace a coup;
cillor ruined by the stresses of -serving on the dog committee,
he learns important political axtgms such "always carry a
manila envelope when in public," "never consult withLany-
body" and "always blame the previous administration."
And as the newest member of council, Jake adds to the non-
sense. Johns describes him as a smart and stupid "marginal"
man who is "grasshopper brained" (tends to forget things),
T'/ Johns
Recreation
Preview
Senior shuffleboard continues
Wednesday afternoons from
1:30 to 4 p.m. All seniors are
welcome to enjoy an afternoon
of fun and fellowship. Last
week's winners were:
Ladies:
I. Scoins 363
M. McMillan 353
Men:
B. McLean 268
K. Lingelbach 233
Seaforth Minor Sports Council
bingo continues Monday
evenings at the Seaforth and
District Community Centres.
Doors open at 6:30 pm with
the first game beginning an
hour later. The next doubles
bingo will be held on Monday,
August 7. Come out and enjoy
an evening of excellent bingo.
The first regular season of the
Seaforth Youth Roller' Hockey
League ended last week.
Playoffs begin Thursday. See
"Scoreboard" for schedule.
Piano results
The following students of Ms
Carol Carter (A.R.C.T., A
MUS, R.M.T.) were successful
in their piano examinations
held recently in Stratford.
Grade 6: Shannon Austin,
Danielle Kismer (Honors),
Jessica Burgess (Honors).
Grade 8: Erin Nicholson
(Honors), Debbie Vanden
Henget (Honors).
cannot read or write, stands too close to you when he talks,
and is willing to "dull mental torture by resorting to alcohol."
Like any politician, "I gave him a wagon load of problems,"
he said.
In an recent interview, Johns called Jake's Place "a little
summer cocktail" which is meant to be a ridiculous light com-
edy which pokes fun at the foibles of how politicians think and
work.
"It's a little highball for the back porch," he said.
Reading a part in the play, the former actor/director turned
playwright, danced and laughed his way through samples of
the play with the animation of a child telling a first joke. But
this was certainly not Johns' first attempt at humor.
Last season, his play He Won't Come In From The Barn was
Blyth's major hit comedy, and in some ways, rejuvenated the
festival. In fact, the play was so well received that its back to
play to audiences again this season.
Jake's Place is now in rehearsal at the festival and Johns
said it is everything he can do to keep his nose out of the ro-
duction. He said he has told the play's director, Miles P ter,
his ideas about how he intended the pia .) be interpret d, but
he admits the play now has to be left to the director. He aid
once rehearsals begin, "I'm just in the way."
The play will open Wednesday, July 26 and will run until
Saturday, Aug. 26.
Although Johns now lives in Blyth and spends most of his
yearrat his home in Toronto, he was born in Seaforth in 1942
and attended Mitchell District High School. His sister Beth
Rose still lives in Mitchell,and he said he intends to be back
in town next summer for the MDHS all -years reunion.
THE BIG EVENT almost at hand
by JEAN ROSS
Take a peek at the calendar!
Seaforth Homecoming '95 is
just around the corner.
Homecoming headquarters is
moving to Stewart Bros. store
this Saturday. August 1 is the
last day to preregister, so if
you haven't been in, better do
it now. There may be some,
who would rather remain
nameless!
The Seaforth Agricultural
Society is going to have its
"Roundhouse" open. This is the
150th Anniversary of the local
society, so there will be
memorabilia and memories
there.
If you are interested in being
part of the craft and flea
market, please make your
reservation as soon as possible
at homecoming headquarters.
Maureen Agar tells us that
you can scratch your name
onto a plank at tl)e High
School •Open Hous for a
`loonie'. This plank will
become a bench for the school
called, "The Memory Lane
Bench".
There is fine entertainment
planned for the weekend. The
Gusd family will have a
concert before the dance on
Friday night in the local Legion
parking lot. Also in the parking
lot on Saturday there will be a
Karaoke. Susan McAllister
entertains at the curling club
Friday night and Saturday, and
there is a variety show of local
talent at the community centre
on the Saturday night.
Another important part of
Homecoming has been well
taken care of too. Food! Along
with our local 'eating spots', to
get the days off to a good start,
the 'Ag Society' is having a
breakfast on Saturday and
Sunday mornings. The
Egmondville United Church is
serving breakfast on Gouinlock
St. on Saturday morning and
the Van Egmond Society is
having a Sunday breakfast at
VanEgmond house.
con Saturday night there is a
beef BBQ at the community
centre; and on Sunday at the
fairgrounds there is a Shriner's
fish fry, and a smoked pork
chop dinner prepared by the
+, Se i forth cr
\, I i, trict
•o1,1 co ing
6, 1995 ,
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Northside United ladies/and
Foresters at the community
centre. The Ladies Auxiliary
will be serving a roast beef
dinner at the Legion, the same
night. There will be fast food
at the Legion on Friday night
and Saturday. The curling club
will have beef on a bun during
the weekend and they invite
you to bring the kids, there will
be some hot dots available.
The 'Ag Society' will have a
food booth at its dance and on
Sunday aftemoon. All these
items are on the green schedule
of events, but we have a
human tendency not to read the
'duettions'!
The Homecoming committee
is most grateful to the Seaforth
Sun prevails
A successful mixed pairs
tournament was held at the
Seaforth Greens on Sunday.
Although cloudy skies and rain
made the tournament doubtful
the sun prevailed and skies
cleared.
First prize went to Lionel
Young and partner of Sauble
Beach (with 3w+50). In second
place were Glenn and Glennis
Keene of Stratford (3w+42).
Third place was Fred and Betty
Tilley Seaforth (3w+38 op2).
Close behind in 8th place were
Art Finlayson and Brenda
Empey (with 2w+40 op5).
Tenth place went to Jack and
Marie Muir (with 2w+38), and
the consolation prize went to
Neil • Beurman and lead
__Dorothy McCluskie with 23
shote in their third game.
Thirteen greens were in play
and it was good to see one
young bowler from Calgary,
Scott Bewley, bowling with his
gandmother Jean Bewley of
Brussels.
In out of town tournaments
Prod and Betty Tilley took first
A
and District Youth groups, who
will relieve some of the
pressure on Homecoming
Saturday. Due to the back-to-
back programming at the
community centre, the young
people have come to our rescue
and will be moving tables and
chairs between events. God
Bless the kids! We 'older' folk
tend to be running low in
energy there days.
I seem to have lost track of
the celebrities who Are going to
be in the parade, so come out
and see who they are on
Sunday. The parade route is on
the back of the events'
schedule, starting south of the
tracks, north along Main to
Duke and the Fair grounds. To
top off the parade there will be
a Pipe Band Tattoo
(competition) at • the fair
grounds.
Next week, I'll confirm the
designated parking areas.
Previously mentioned 'people
movers' are still at the
discussion stage.
for bowlers
prize on Saturday at Exeter
mixed pairs. Last Wednesday
five Seaforth teams bowled in
the Newcombe Memorial
Tournament. Brenda Empey
and An Finlayson were three
game winners while Tom
Phillips and Carol Carter were
two game winners.
Wednesday, August 23 is the
Lawn Bowling Clubs largest
tournament of the year. As in
past years members and
assocjates will be asked for a
donation of non-perishable
grocery items to make up
grocery boxes, as well as a
prize for the tournament. The
club is most grateful to all their
members and associates for the
response they have received in
the past. Proceeds from this
tournament help to maintain
our greens and club house
during the lawn bowling
seascm
Sincere sympathy goes out to
Ken and Velma Preszcator on
the deaths of two family
members last week.
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, July 20, 1916-13
SEAFORTH
HOMECOMING '95
TRAVEL THE
WORLD
WINNER
Beatrice Campbell
RR1
Seaforth
New England
Cape Cod
FORTHCOMING
MARRIAGE
BACHERT MACFARLANE
Dan and Mary Bachert of RR #4, L
Seaforth, Ont., and Don and Betty
Mcafarlane of Glen Ewen, Sask, are
pleased to announce the forthcoming
marriage of their children
Daniel Paul
and
Carolyn Rose.
The wedding will take place in the will
of the Lord, on Saturday, August 19,
1995 at 11:00 a.m. at
Glen Ewen Gospel Hall,
Glen Ewen, Sask..
SP RKY'S PLACE
FAMILY
DINING
UNDAY, JULY 30" SPEC
INCLUDES
Soup Or Salad Bar
Coffee or Tpa and Dessert
3 PIECE CHICKEN
DINNER
$650
90 Main St., Seaforth
Van Egmond
House
Old
Fashioned
Homecoming
Breast
Aug. 6, 1995
8 a.m. -1 p.m.
Adults $5.00
Children (11 & under) $2.50
Preschoolers FREE
Eggs, Sausage, Bacon,
Pancakes, Toast,
Home Fried Potatoes
Mullins & Jam
Coffee, Juice
Music
LIVE BAND
a 11 k i ll FAMILY
IN CONCERT
VISA / MASTERCARD
Phone Orders:
1-800-465-7829
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23 - 8 p.m.
BLYTH ARENA
Tickets: $29.50 ADVANCE $32.00 At the Door
Advance Available at:
Blyth Legion, Br. 420 • Blyth Decorating, Blyth
Goderich Entertainer • Robin Hood Tours - Goderich
Ernie King's Music Limited - Wingham • Reddi Chef - Clinton
•" PRODUCED IN CO OPERATION Mit IF "LEGION LADIES AUXILIARY '•^
GO
HORSE RACING
•
NTARIO IBES
STAKES
3•YEAR•OLD
COLT
PACERS
Watch Ontario's finest 3 -year-old colt
pacers battle for over $40,000.
and stay for our fabulous Beef BBQ
Sunday, July 30
Also This Sunday
THOROUGHBRED SIMULCAST
Watch Live Thoroughbred Action from
Fort Erie & Woodbine Raceways
POST TIME 1 P.M.
Post Time 1:30
We've got something for everyone.
0 Supervised Swimming L) Picnic Areata Children's Plyaground
M Live and simulcast racing 0 Special Events and Barbecues
CLINTON RAC!WAY
Clinton Community Centre -• Beach St.
482-7729
0