HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-07-03, Page 18Mabelle Mabel soars in second act
BY DAVID SC017
Expositor Editor
Blyth Festival's production
of Mabelle Mabe!, the love
story of Alexander Graham
Bei; and his wife Mabel
Hubbard, is like the first suc-
cessful flight of an airplane in
Canada over Baddeck Bay. It
takes some time to get mov-
ing and then it soars.
Although Bell is known
worldwide for his invention
of the telephone, this play by
Cindy Cowan, which had its
premiere in Nova Scotia,
touches on other aspects of
the inventor's life. It focuses
on the 37 years he made
Baddeck, Nova Scotia his
home and how Mabel
(Wanda Graham), who over-
came the challenge of deaf-
ness, inspired and'encour-
aged Bell, who preferred to
start his working day at mid-
night.
It's quite a challenge to
pack 37 years of life into two
acts. The play is set in 1923,
fjve.tnonths after the inven-
death and is told in
backs which highlight
Bell's first meeting with
Mabel, his kite work with
tetrahedral cells, his opposi-
tion to World War I,. thc cre-
ation of a tower of triangles,
-the first successful manned
flight of an aircraft in Canada
and the launching of the
"cigar" boat.
To take the audience hack
in time to Bell's days in
Baddeck, two screens show
real slide images of the
MABEL & ALEXANDER - In this scene from
Blyth Festival production of Mabelle Mabel, inventor
Alexander Graham Bell (Ted Johns) and his wife Mabel
(Wanda Graham) have a lively discussion. (James
Hockings photo)
the 1996
inventor, his family and staff
working on creations.
Sometimes it's like_ flipping
through a family album but.
other times it's distracts from -
the on-stage drama and
breaks a hit of thc spell for
the audience. But the photos
arc a treasure, like the one of
Bell watching Mabel out of
the water in the launching of
,thc "Cigar." And how did
director Janet Amos get hold
of these images? - including
what looks like a family.
photo of Boil's coffin being
lowered into the ground at
his home at Baddcck.
Set and costume designer
Pat Flood and assistant
designer Barbara Gordon
have to he commended for
some inventiveness them-
selves in creating both the
sense of flight on stage with-
out constructing an entire air-
craft and conveying the feel-
ing of racing across the water
for the first time in a new
boat. The designing pair also
have Ted Johns looking very
close to thc hoarded Bell
shown in slidc-s throughout
thc play. - - The second act really takes
off when some tension is
introduced into the lotus -land
of invention.
Mabel has concerns about
Bell's motivation for his
work with the deaf.
Bell, played by the amica-
ble Seaforth native Ted
Johns, fights with his assis-
tant Casey Baldwin (Rustey
Davenport) about the morals
of making inventions to be
used in the war.
Problems also arise with
daughters Mayme (Liza
Balkan) and Elsie (Jocelyne
Zucco) over their mother's
indecision to take her late
husband's place on the hoard
of a famous school for the
deaf.
When these conflicts and
realities of life threaten the
oasis of_Beinn Bhreagh, the
home of the Bell family, this
play really pulls you in and
lets you share in the pain, joy
- and frustration of an incredi-
ble mind who had too many
ideas and not enough time
and energy to complete them
all. And how Mabel seemed
to pull him through it all.
Wanda Graham does an
amazing job authentically
mimicking the speech of
Mabel Bell, a woman who
deserves•a medal for endur-
ing the eccentricities and
oddities of the inventor of the
telephone (who doesn't like
to be reminded of the accom-
plishment constantly).
Ted Johns gives a humor-
ous and human face to
Canada's most famous man
(>f science in this moving
drama.
Mabelle Mabel runs in
repertoryuntil August 29.
Thursday
LADIES' NITE
wit
zt,e COMEDYhOUTLAWS
CO Release Party
S3 00 at the door
OPEN UNTIL 2 A 41
PARTICIPANTS It h
PHOTO BY MARTY BEDARD
- n e recently concluded district and Seaforth Senior Games held an evenings
awards banquet last Wednesday at Seaforth Branch 156, Royal Canadian Legion. , - , , . ; ` , - . , ,
Huy 8 West, Clinton
482-1234%
M.C.L. SOUND
FULL D.J. SERVICE
Book Your Receptions, -•
•' Buck & Does early!
For more info. call
482-9984
•
MI HURON UPOSITOR, July 3, 1 0110-1 7
COMMUNITY SHOWER
for
Niki Phillips
SUNDAY, JULY 7
2:00 PM at
Seaforth Optimist Hall
Thurs. Nite
START THE.
Long Weekend Here!!
Party with
Sound Image
D.J.
( ()\I\II K( 1 \I II( )111
Happy 75th Birthday
Marie Dekroon
You're Invited To An
OPEN HOUSE
for Marie Dekroon
Sunday, July 7th
2 pm to 4 pm
at 216 St. David St.,
• Mitchell, Ont.
"Your presence is your gift"
GRADUATION
MARK MACDONALD
Graduated from the
Mechanical Engineering
Technology Design and
Analysis Program from
Conestoga College,
Kitchener on June 24, 1996.
Hei is the son of Brian and
Karen MacDonald,
Seaforth. Mark is currently
employed with Boilersmith
Ltd., Seaforth. ` `
Congratulations and
Rest Wishes from your
family.
SUNDAY
SPECIAL
JULY7,1to7PM
FISH & CH PS
DINNER.
$625
p
LRKY'' 1iiil
FAMILY il
•
527-1964
90 Main St.
Seaforth L,�L
'mac
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
GRADUATION
Leanne Charters, daughter
of William and Marlene
Charters' of RIR l3 Kippen,
graduated on June 25,
1996'with a diploma in
Business Administration -
Marketing from. Conestoga
College, Kitchener. She
served as president of the
Conestoga Business
Students Association and
was the recipient of the
Marketing Facility AWard of
Excellence), Leanne is
presently employed by
Oinney Furniture, Exeter.
Congratulations from
your family.
Mayor presents many ribbons and medals
The Seaforth Senior Games
finished off the season with
their Potluck - Awards
Banquet. which was held last
. Wednesday at the Seaforth
Legion. Mayor Irwin
Johnston was in attendance to
hand out ribbons and medals
to all the winners. After the
awards, euchre was held.
Muir a hit
Clinton Fire Chief Dean
Reid has resigned, citing the
excessive time commitment
as it affects managing his
own business.
In his letter of resignation
he also•expresscd concerns
that health and safety issues
arc not being dealt with prop-
erly because voluntary chiefs
haven't got time to do neces-
sary work.
Assistant Steve Cook will
he acting chief in Clinton
until a replacement is chosen.
ecreation
Preview
by Marty Bedard
Special thanks to all the
Committee members and
convenors. The committee
would also like to thank Ann
Wood for looking after the
kitchen, and Ernie Harburn
for looking after the Euchres.
The Gommitte►e plans, to start
the Monthly Euchre,
Fundraisers in the Fall.
,Senior Shuffleboard result,
from last week:
Ladies:
V. Preszcator
A. McLean
M. McMillan
Men:
K. Lingclbach
321
288
220
329
BUCK & DOE
for
, Dave Franken & Lisa Noble
THIS SATURDAY JULY 6
At The Franken Farm - Auhttrit
%watch for signs
8:30 p.nt. - 1 a.nt. - Age of `Iajority only
BEEF BARBECUE INCLUDED
Tickets 5.00 each. For Tore inforinatto11 call
Days 482-7869 Evg 233-9237 523-4986
STARTS •
WEDNESDA
The question of whether or not w are
alone in the universe has been answered,
40
N'S•„ " 1 tritl
IIDEPENOEICE DRY
WED.-THURS., JULY 03-11 6:45 & 9:15 PM NITELY
LONG DISTANCE? CAII 1100.265.343S FOR TOIL FREE MOVIE INFO
1
ca*Tita
.. .,Op Sr GP TS
PRESENTS
A TWO STEPPIN' LINE DANCIN
COUNTRY GOOD TIME
July 13, '96
8:00 pm: Line Dancing
Instruction
9:00- 1:00 am
Mitchell Arena
1800 Adv. 110°° Door
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT
SMYTH SHOES (Mitchell/Street)
348-8273 or 3489445
1
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
,
f •:.` �senllsr' d f.
)' ::fit %:;... Country ,
rJr j✓ jl:�. "a Pla e to Renrenler"' `‘O`
J/' 1'
OPEN DAILY Ii
FRIDAY • "Fresh Fish" Dinner
Saturday evening Buffet
SUNDAY BRUNCH
!.
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f.
0
0
f.
f,f, Located at St. Joseph on Hwy. 21
between Grand Bend and Bayfield
1f' R.R. 2, ZURICH CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 236-7707 9
NEW
�
Be Involved! 444
1 ��
IY
Remember to attend the workshop on the New County Plan at
Bayfield Community Centre
Saturday, July 13, 9:30 a.m.
Why Should I Attend?
• I will be affected by the New County Plan because it
will affect local and County decision making and that
will affect me;
• 1 want to hear what Huron residents said about
community values in the recently completed
Community Action Kits;
• I want to voice my community
issues;
• I want to influence public policy
before it is drafted;
• 1 care about the future of my
community.
For a complete list of workshops being held around
the County, please call the Huron County Planning
and Development Department at 519-524-2188.
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