HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-06-26, Page 15Entertainment
Barndance Live:
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Editor
A rip-snortin', toe-tappin',
hoe-down of a good time.
No, that wasn't last week at
work. But it was the highlight
of the week - the opening of
Blyth Festival's Barndance
Live! Friday night.
This lively entertaining
play celebrates the local tour-
ing radio show, "The CKNX
Barn Dance" and opens Blyth
Festival's 22nd season. And
if you listen carefully, you'll
hear the names of many arca
towns including Scaforth in
the fast -paced dialogue.
This collective play was
developed by director Paul
Thompson with the help of
improvisational ideas and
dialogue from the performers
who studied the history of the
show and its characters.
"Bashful Boy,"• "John
Thomas" and "Flying Pig"
arc just a few of the jokes out
of context (hut 1 don't want
to give them away).
Actor John Wright (Safe
Haven, The Old Man's Band
& The Glorious 12th) intro-
duces the play and takes a
background role to the antics
of cast Raoul Bhaneja, Eric
Coates. Andrew Dolha,
Carolyn Hay. Gary Muir and
Jack Nicholson who do a
tremendous job of portraying
Barn Dance legends Doc
Cruicksho_nk - CKNX
founder, fiddler Al Cherney,
Earl Heywood, MC Johnnie
Brent, Ernie King, Cactus
Mac,4Larry Mercey and
more.
Chameleon Carolyn Hay is
amazing in' her many charac-
is down-home fun
HOWDY STRANGER - In this scene from the 1996 Blyth Festival production of
Barndance Li11W, singer Larry Mercey (actor Eric Coates), left, meets fiddler Al Cherny
(actor Jack Nibholsen) at a CKNX Barn Dance show. (Photo by James Hockings)
tors of Barndance fame.
Musical director and fiddler
Anne Lederman must he
commended for her breath-
less fiddling and energetic
musical mix.
The walk-ons featuring
local talent didn't miss a
heat.
If there was an NHL draft
for step -dancers, the "Family
Ties" would he first round
picks. The three girls arc
dynamite dancer's who move
faster than humrningliirds in
a hurricane. -
There's something for
everyone in this production.
For those too young to
remember thc names of Barn
Dance regulars, the racy
humour and punchy dialogue
will keep you entertained.
Aftcrall, these CKNX leg-
ends are portrayed as young
performers making their first
musical marks. There's
'doubt; confidence, jitters, tal-
ent 'and humour all rolled
together in the transformation
from first time performers to
seasoned "Ranch Boys." •
Stratford Festival
Bedford holds audience spellbound
as Salieri in Shaffer's Amadeus
BY DAVID SCOTT
Expositor Editor
It's more than a play. It's a
spiritual struggle.
it's not fair to composer
Salicri (played impeccably by
Brian Bedford again this sea-
son) that God has chosen the
vulgar Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart through which to
share his music with the
world. It's especially hitter.
when Salicri prays and prays
and is willing to he God's
servant when Mozart spends
a hedonistic life seemingly
void of morals.
Stratford Festival's produc-
tion of Amadeus is a spell-
binding flashback told by
crusty old Salicri who
addresses the audience direct-
ly as "ghosts of the future."
He narrates through the past
to his first meeting with
Mozart and how he continu-
ously tries to sabotage young
Wolfgang's career at every
turn.
But he can't compete with
Mozart's magic.
A' high-strung. stream -of -
consciousness, absurd
Amadeus is portrayed by
Stephen Ouimette. And
music to him isn't work -
marriage is, though. A
spunky, enduring Constanzc
Weber (Colomhe Demers)
puts up with Mozart's con-
stant antics and fidelity.
James Biendick turns in a
good pompous performance
as Joseph ll, Emperor of
Austria who frequently com-
missions operas from
European composers. Salicri
is his court composer, who at
the time out -shined Mozart
hut during his narration is
now a hitter old man, all but
forgotten as Mozart's music
gains more and more popu-
larity around the world.
As he says, he's lived long
enough to sec his ,own
demise.
The cunning composer con-
tinuously feasts on Mozart's
weaknesses, exploiting him
when he's most vulnerable
and even disguising himself
as the ghost of Leopold
Mozart to add to Wolfgang's
misery and submerge him
further into madness. It's
almost pathetic to watch
Amadeus continue to strug-
gle through desperate illness,
composing brilliant music
right up until his premature
death. -
If there is any sense to be
made in the story, written by
Peter Shaffer, it's from the
narrator and rival Salieri.
Bedford carries his role and
this production with great,
irony, subtlety and convic
tion. 'His lonely figure on
stage at the end of both acts
literally burns an unforget-
table image in your mind.
Amadeus runs at the
Festival Theatre until
November I.
Muirs win mixed pairs tournament
CONTINUED from page 6
won byIsabel Annis and
Mary Higgins of Mitchell.
Saturday, June 22 saw 15
greens in play for Scaforth's
first mixed pairs tournament.
First place winners were Jack
and Marie Muir of Scaforth
with 3w + 47. Second was
Bob Thompson and Doris
Hackney of Exeter with 3w +
42. Darlene and George
Woods of St. Marys were
third and fourth was Roy
Trichner and Audrey
Burrows of Exctcr. Fifth
place went to Bert and
Christine Wydcven of St.
Marys. Sixth was Neil and
Edna Bell of Scaforth.
Consolation prize went to
London's John and Mac
Weekes of the Fairmont Club
with 21 points.
Scaforth howlers have been
active in out-of-town tourna-
ments. In a mixed trebles at
Atwood Jack and Marie Muir
and Thelma Coombs were
third. in Exeter men's pairs
Fred Tilley and Doug
Lconhardt placed fourth
whileat Mitchell men's pairs.
Brett Finlayson and his dad
Art also. won fourth prize. in
optional singles at Goderich
Brett Finlayson was third and
Doug Lconhardt fifth. Last'
Monday was Senior Games
Lawn Bowling at Exeter
Greens and Seaforth's team
of Art Finlayson+(lead), Mary
Finlayson (vice) and Thelma
Coombs (skip) placed 2nd
winning the silver pins in
lawn howling. We arc sorry
to report Thelma Coombs has
been in Stratford Hospital
Clown class graduates Saturday
A class of clowns graduates
Saturday at Godcrich.
"After weeks of homework
and diligent practice the
Children's Aid Society
clowns arc ready to he
released to do their stuff,
spreading thc message of
good will through humour
across thc country," says a
release from the local agency.
"The 20 graduates have
decided to form a 'Clown
Alley'. We understand this
new group will he the first
Clown Alley sponsored by a
Children's Aid Society in
Canada. and possibly in
North America."
since last Thursday and her
many friends wish her well at
this time. Good bowling to
all.
CENTRALIA • HURON PARK LIONS
" BING
11
PLACE: Huron Park Rec. Centre
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996
TIME: 1:OOP.M..- Doors open at 12 noon
$1,000 JACKPOT MUST GO
( YOUR SUPPORT 15 APPRECIATED/
Stag & Doe
for
Dan Furlong
Lois Binnendyk
Saturday,
July 6, 1996
8 p.m.
Tickets
$8.00
Age of Majority
Required
For more info call...
527-2821
Barndance Live! is an
evening of down-home fun
that shouldn't he missed by
anyone who grew up (or is
just growing up) in "these
here parts."
For more information, call
the Blyth Festival box office
at (519) 523-93(1).
McMaster
Siemon
t INSURANCE
M BROKERS INC.
•AUTO 'HOME 'FARM
•TRAVEL 'COMMERCIAL
•LIFE INSURANCE
BROKERS:
Bill Siemon
Vicki Siemon .
Anette McTaggart
- Dan Proctor
68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150
Mitchell 1-800-561-0183
CONGRATULATIONS
,e , 1
On June 7,- 1996, Sherri
Bennett graduated on
the Dean's Honour Roll
from the Nursing
Program at Lambton
College, Sarnia. Sherri
has accepted a
Registergd Nurse's
position at Sarnia
General Hospital, ICU
Dept. She is the
daughter of Roland &
Donna Bennett of RR
#5, Seaforth.
Best Wishes from your
family and friends
/ Starting Wed., July 3
19c WING NITE
Thursdays
Music starts at 9 pm
LADIES' NITE
Ball Hockey Players Specials
Canada Weekend
Party
Friday Nite Only
1st Appearance in the area
BALANCE
"The Ultimate Tribute to New Van
Helen"
55 at the door
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
CANADA!
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Jun* 20, 1090-15
Connections strengthen between
Conestoga and Huron Board
Hwy 8 West. Clinton
482-1234
According to a June 12
media release, "easier access
to post -secondary education
opportunities for residents of
Huron County," is why dis-
cussions have opened to
¢SENIOR GAMES
POT LUCK
The Seaforth Senior
Games Committee
invites all participants,
guests and friends to
their annual Potluck -
Awards banquet.
Wed., June 26 - 6:00 pm
at the Seaforth Legion
Please remember to
bring your own dishes &
cutlery as well as a main
dish or dessert.
Call 527-0882 for more
information.
di
BRODHAGEN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ANNUAL
CHICKEN
BAR-B-QUE
Wednesday, July 17, 1996
at
Brodhagen Hall
4:30 - 7:30 pm
Adults - $8.00
Children - $4.00
Tickets at the door
Take-out available
loomminsd
GRADUATION
Michael Axtmann, son of
Jim and Ruth Axtmann,
brother of Linda, Bob, Carol
and Kenneth, graduated
from Brock University, St.
Catharines, Ontario on June
14, 1996 with a Bachelor of
Science Geology and
Geography). Congrat-
ulations from your family.
strengthen connections
between the Huron County
Board of Education and the
Conestoga College of
Applied Arts and
Technology.
SUNDAY
SPEC
JUNE 30,5 to 7 PM
ROAS ' t'
BEEF Vor
DINNER tel.
$65° ! 1®d
6
in!
P
RKY'S
AM LY DINING
527-1964
90 Main St.
Seaforth 1110
BUCK & DOE
for
DEB VAN LOON
DALE McCARTHY
Sun. June 30/96
B.B.Q
(all you can eat)
3:00 pm - 1:00 am
Age of Majority
Tickets - `10.''
Call: 345-2942
or 348-4175
HOLY COW
NESBITT S 40
(Graham Nesbitt)
Elvin & Nancy Parker of
Clinton are very pleased
and proud to announce the
graduation of their daughter
Karen McCullough
from the Respiratory
Therapy Program (with
honours) from Fanshawe
College in London.
Congratulations Karen!
Now you'll be an R.N.,
R.R.T. Excellent work!
Love, your family
r
Joan Kerslake gtaduated
with distinction from
Althousc College.
the Faculty of Education
in London
Friday June 7. 1996
Joan is the daughter of
Bill & Freda Kerslake of
Staffa. She previously
attended Wilfrid Laurier
University. Mitchell
District High School and.
Upper -Thames
Elementary School.
Congratulations and Best
of Luck from your family
and friends.
GRADUATION
DAVID HAROLD MENHEERE
John and Karen are
pleased to announce the
recent graduation of their
son David from the
University of Western
Ontario. David received a
Bachelor of Engineering
Science degree. He was on
the Dean's Honour List.
Congratulations on your
achievements and best
wishes for continued
success and happiness.
Love from your family
and friends
' t