HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-08-30, Page 1010 -TNI HURON EXPOSITOR, August AO, 1111110
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Local audiences discover magic of musicals
BY TIM CUMMING
Expositor Editor
There is life on another
planet.:.a sparkling, magical
form of life which inhabits a
world called the Musical.
The Musical is a fantastic
place where people's passions
run deep and the people who
inhabit it are as apt to break
out in song or dance as talk to
"the person next to them:
It is an alternate reality that
some cynics would insist does
not exist. There are others,
myself included, who believe
this fourth dimension has its
own undeniable logic.
Several bars into the first
song it becomes clear this odd
cultural "island makes a great
deal of sense, after all.
Audiences in this arca are
discovering the joy of music
and theatre in a production
with its own fair share of
music, My Fair Lady, which is
running until Sept. 2 at the
Huron Country Playhouse. The
old favourite, performed in
what one critic called a "valiant
effort", is a crowd favourite.
At the Blyth Festival audi-
ences enjoyed a very music -
oriented play in Ballad For A
Rum Runner's Daughter.
Although not a musical, music
also played a big part in the
Blyth Festival world premiere
production of This Year, Next
Year.
Audiences at the "Stratford
Festival this year have the
chance to see a breathtaking
spectacle in Gilbert and
Sullivan's The Gondoliers. The
lively and brilliantly -staged
musical continues until Oct. 28.
Theaudience can enjoy the
return of Eric Donkin, who has
carved a special place for him-
self in the world of musical
theatre in Gilbert and Sullivan
performances. As usual he is a
riot as he delivers the rapid-fire
elocution which makes G & S
productions work so well.
Douglas Chamberlain is also
a delight as The Duchess of
Plaza -Toro. If Helen's face
launched a thousand ships, the o
face of the Duchess could send
them all scurrying back to
shore.
Lawn bowl tourney
BECOMING A 'LADY'
Music and theatre are being
enjoyed at the Huron Coun-
try Playhouse production of
My Fair Lady, which runs
until Sept. 2. Shown here
are David Hughes (Col:
Pickering), Tracey Ann
Moore (Eliza Doolittle) and
David Dunbar (Henry
Higgins).
The Stratford play has some
cleverly -written allusions to the
current Canadian political
scene. Some viewers may find
the frequent modem references
jarring but in this light-hearted
farce they mostly work very
well.
Lee MacDougall, as the
Grand Inquisitor, is sometimes
a little two-dimensional but at
other times is quite comic.
Curtis Sullivan and Craig
Ashton are well -cast as the
playboys -turned -would -be -
kings. Ashton is particularly
strong in his singing although
Sullivan's acting is, at times,
unconvincing.
The Gondoliers may not be
as familiar to audiences as
H.M.S. Pinafore but there are
still some charming songs by
the original masters of the
peretta.
If the source material is
somewhat lightweight the Festi-
One hundred and forty-four
lawn bowlers were at the
Seaforth Greens last
Wednesday bowling in the
Anniversary Tournament. The
weather was ideal and the
greens were running very fast.
Taking first prize for the day
were the Exeter team of Peter
and Gloria McFalls with 3w
+48 op 2. Second place went
to Ralph and Lou Reid of
London's Fairmont Club 3w
+47. In third place were John
Scullion and daughter Jennifer
of Kitchener with 3w +48 op 4.
For her prize, Jennifer chose
the lovely afghan hand made
by Thelma Dale. Fourth prize
went to Bud and Helen Wake
of Orangeville with 3w +44.
Harry and Helen Urqhuart were
5th with 3w +42 while in 6th
place were Brett Finlayson and
Brenda Empey with 3w +41.
Eric Rank and partner from
Guelph had also 3w +41 but
with more shots served against.
Eighth prize went to Clinton'A
Elmer Murray and Audrey
Walsh with 3w +38. High two
game winners were Hap Hall
and Jane Treleaven with 2w
+46 op 13. Once again this
was a most successful
tournament; thanks to all the
members and associates for
their donations of prizes, food,
money and help for the day.
Without their support the Club
could not carry out a day such
successful
as this. Special thanks also to
the Draw Masters Fred and
Betty Tilley and to our
greenskeeper Erich Matzold.
During the week several
teams were in out of town
tournaments. Lee. Ryan and
Carol Carter were two game
winners in Brussels on
Thursday. At London's
Fairmont Club on Saturday
Betty Tilley was vice for
Gloria McFalls skip and Barb
Triebner (lead) of Exeter and
they won 2nd prize in the
London Sail Test tournament
with a novice lead. Also on
Saturday Fred Tilley and Jack
Muir bowled in the Jake
Herman Memorial at London's
Elmwood Club taking fifth
place.
Neil and Edna Bell were high
two game winners on Sunday
in Stratford at the P.H. Hiller
Realty tournament. Jack and
Marie Muir were also two
game winners while Lee Ryan
and Carol Carter won
Consolation prize.
Coming up on Sunday, Sept.
3 at 1 p.m, will be the Legion
Sponsored Tournament in
Exeter. A number of our men
bowlers plan to attend a men's
pairs in Mitchell on
Wednesday while on Friday
evening Sept 1, the Clinton
Lawn Bowling Club will be
guests of Seaforth in a mixed
jitney.
New teacher appointed
The guest speaker this past
Sunday at Hensall United
Church was Sharon Wurm,
Sharon's message was "The
Price of Worry" The
Children's Hymn was "Fairest
Lord Jesus". The ushers were
Carol Martin and Elaine
Corbett. The greeter was Steve
McGregor. Rev. Henry Annen
will retum to the pulpit next
Sunday.
The Friendship Circle meet
Sept, 5 at 8 p.m.
The -Hensall and District
Horticultural Society meets
Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at the
Hensall United Church.
The sympathy of the
community is extended to the
family of the late Lloyd
Vcnncr.
Hensall Tinker Tots Co-op
Nursery School announced the
appointment of Carol Axtmann,
as the Kids' Club teacher for
1995 -96. Carol has her degree
Hensall
by Liz Sangster
262-2715
in Child Studies from the
University of Guelph and
several years of experience in
the child care field. Dianne
• Shapton will be returning for
another year with Tinker Tots,
as the Nursery School teacher.
Inquiries and registrations for
both programs are welcomed at
262-2305 (school) or 262-3207
(Karen).
The Carmel Presbyterian
Church Women will meet on
Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. Several
people from the Hensall area
attended the 50th wedding
anniversary of Erma and Lloyd
Bowerman on Sunday, August
20.
PHANTOM STARTED IT
ALL - The popularity of the
musical became clear when,
in 1989, The Phantom of the
Opera kick-started the genre
into box office overdrive. The
play remains a hit more than
five years later.
val production is a true heavy-
weight. From start to finish, the
production is a triumph of
visual imagery and inventive-
ness. There are wonderful sight
gags and absolutely breath-
taking costumes and use of the
set.
•
CYLLA VON TIEDEMANN PHOTO
BRILLIANT IMAGERY - Eric Donkin and Douglas Chamber-
lain (as the Duke and Duchess of Plaza Toro) add to the fun
in the magnificent Festival production of The Gondoliers.
The current production even
steals an ingenious dance idea
from an earlier Festival G & S
production in one of the finest,
funniest, most enjoyable scenes
seen on any stage anywhere.
Productions like The Gondo-
liers show that powerful musi-
cals can be viewed without
leaving the Huron -Perth area.
Huron County audiences who
.have experienced musicals in a
regional setting may also be
travelling by bus or car to
Toronto to discover the world
of the big -city musical. For
instance, the Seaforth Com-
munity Hospital Recreation
Committee is sending a bus
trip to Toronto. to see Beauty
and the Beast in October.
The production that changed
the world of musical theatre in
Canada has to be Phantom of
the Opera. There are other
•
"Absolutely
breathtaking
costumes..."
mega -musicals like Show Boat,
Joseph and the upcoming Sun-
set Boulevard...but it was
Phantom which rewrote all the
rules.
Theplay. has run since 1989 -
but still attracts thousands of
enthusiastic fans, many for
repeat viewings.
There is a new Phantom, and
he is Irish-born Ciaran
Sheehan. Hc brings a new
spark and enthusiasm to the
production which has become
the ultimate showcase for an
actor in musicals. •
The difference between the
regional musicals and the big
city variety is scope:
Finding good volunteers.
By Gerry Horst
"Have we got a job for you!"
is something that a lot of
groups, clubs and associations
say quite often, because
volunteer recruitment is very
important to them.
Good volunteer recruitment
can be defined as:
"getting the right person
to do the right job,
with the right skills,
at the right time"
Far too often volunteer
recruitment is seen as a
problem needing a quick fix,
rather than an ongoing process
which is a natural and integral
part of any organization.
Instead of including
recruitment in a plan for your
volunteers (old and new), we
rush to fill a vacancy with the
first warm body we can. Often
without thought or review of
the purpose of the position.
"We need someone to fill
Joe's spot as Special Activities
Vice -Chairman" is the
immediate worry when we
should really concern ourselves
with getting the desired
program results. "We'll never
be able to replace Joe" might
be true, but, we don't
necessarily need to replace Joe.
What the group needs is to
achieve the same results
(achievement of objectives) as
they did with under the system
that had "Joe" as "Special
Events Vice -Chairman".
Only after reviewing goals
and objectives, should we look
at defining specific tasks or
jobs (a "job" being simply a
set of tasks). Then we can
determine the qualifications
Ask your
dealer for
details!
ON THE LEGENDARY JUST ONE NAND" TILLERL
Plug... No Payments & No Intertest *'111 1/2/96!
Select a TROY-B/LT 1111m.make your best deal and we'll
send you an extra $ 105 - $1 40 Rebate (depending on model) on
your purchase direct from the TROY-BILT Factoy!
We'll bond you 9105 - 9140 on the TROY -MAT
TNNr, depending on model or 9700 on select
TROY-BILT CARDEN TRACTORS! When
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BRING THIS COUPON TO YOUR DEALER!
CS3S-I95
IveK
RRODHAOSIV
345-'2248
Look for us on Perth County Rd. e11•
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needed for that job, list
potential candidates who have
those qualifications, interview
the best candidate(s) and
appoint the volunteer. I'm sure
that this sounds like an awfully
cumbersome process, but even
in the smallest situations, this
is the general thought process.
The Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food & Rural.
Affairs has "Factsheets" on
many technical topics including
Leadership and Organizational
Development, including one
called "Recruiting
Volunteers". Factsheets are
available at the OMAFRA
office at 10 Don Street in
Clinton, 482-3428.
Gerry Horst is Rural
Community Advisor with the
Ministry of Agriculture, Food
& Rural Affairs in Clinton.
Cavan United
Church
Winthrop
Sunday
September 3, 1995
JOINT
SERVICE
11:00 am at
Northside United
Church, Seaforth
(no 9:30 service)
I
•
While rhantom may not have
the heart of The Gondoliers it
has plenty of bombast, special
effects and showmanship. It is
like a roller coaster ride full of
thrills, surprises, explosions
and magical tricks. Whatever
other impressions audience
members have they must be in
awe of the production's sheer
size.
This viewer had the privilege
of attending the August 23
performance of Phantom, in
which the role of Christine
Daae was played by a substi-
tute.
All I can say, if Glenda
Balkan was an understudy the
regular actress, Gay Willis,
must be earth -shattering!
Balkan was a delight from start
to finish, with powerful acting
and singing throughout.
If charm is something the
mega -musical lacks, whatever
warmth the play has was due
to her. In fact, Phantom is in
many ways Christine's story.
Phantom provides the pomp
and circumstance while Gondo-
liers provides good fun and
ingenious visual scenes. My
Fair Lady provides well -
remembered songs like I'm
getting married in the morning
and Just You Wait in the con-
text of a familiar story.
The musical is a loud, bold,
none -too -subtle form of enter-
tainment which is often pooh-
poohed by the intellectual elite.
The paying public has shown,
however, • that they are
enchanted by big shows with
big music. They have given
them the most powerful vote of
all...at the box office.
•
•
410,0*
401 s
�`4d1ellpa1(0
A.WOIOIO,
TOWNSHIP
OF HULLETT
NOTICE
Township of Hullett
MUNICIPAL OFFICE
WILL BE CLOSED
from 12 Noon
Thursday, Sept. 7 and
all day Friday,
September 8.
As of
Monday September 11,
we will be located in
the new Municipal
Building.
GIRLS! GIRLS!
Bayfield Minor Hockey
Registration
Junior & Senior Teams
at
Bayfield Municipal
Building
THURSDAY,
SEPT. 7
7:30 -
9:00 p.m.
SATURDAY
SEPT. 9
10 - NOON
For More
Information
Call Colette
565-2209
FAIL& VVINTER REGISTRATION
Wednesday, September 6
Thursday, September 7
7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Both Nights
at the
Seaforth and District Community Centres
Come register for:
Minor Hockey, Figure Skating, Ringette, Power Skating,
Minor Broombaf, Junior Curling, and more!!
For more information call the Recreation Office
527-0882