HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1996-09-18, Page 15THE HURON IIXPO$ITO11, Upton** 111, 11SS-1$
Entertainment
Plummer in Barrymore a dynamite mix
BY GREGOR CAMPBELL
Expositor Staff
John Barrymore was a char-
acter.
• And Christopher Plummer
is magnificent in the role of
this acting legend who "stood
in his own light," in the
world premiere of the play by
the same name that opened at
the Stratford Festival last
week.
Barrymore, now at the
Avon Theatre, was written by
William Luce and is directed
by Gene Saks. It is presented
by special arrangement with
Livent Inc., chaired by Garth
Drahinsky, the same people
that produced thc mega -musi-
cal sensation The Phantom of
the Opera, among other hits.
in short, all involved arc
heavyweights. Following its
limited Stratford run (until
Oct. 20), Barrymore will tour
several U.S. cities prior to
hitting Broadway early next
year.
The play is bound to he a
another hit. You will hear
more about it.
John Barrymore came from
a "long line of staggerers," a
distinguished theatrical fami-
ly with roots that reached
int() the middle of the last
century. He was deemed
among the finest classical
actors of his day, and later
starred in more than 50 films
in Hollywood. The pinnacle
of his stage career is consid-
ered to he his performances
in the title roles of Hamlet
and Richard 111 in thc 1920s.
He drank himself into an
early grave.
But it is the spirit of the
man that is captured so well
in this Stratford production.
Plummer, a Canadian, is one
of the finest actors of our day.
He is also a Stratford origi-
nal and was a star in the area
Festival's formative years
under Sir Tyrone Guthrie and
Michael Langham.
His performance in this
play inspires.
Much wit weaves well with
some of the grandeur of
William Shakespeare's un-
equalled genius for words
and the essence of the
Barrymore legend.
The play is set when booze
and four wives (although the
latter, I suppose, certainly
depends on your point of
view) had taken their toll but
Barrymore was considering a
return to the stage.
Alcoholics are often simply
boring but this play moves
right along, in two acts, the
same setting.
The lest and passion of the
character and the actor seem
as one and are infectious.
The only other character in
the play is Michael Maestro,
who we don't meet face-to-
face until the curtain call.
Much of the raw material in
Luce's play comes from the
hook Good Night, Sweet
Prince by Gene Fowler, one
of the more .celebrated
reporters of his generation,
which was published in 1944,
shortly after Barrymore's
death. The two were friends.
"At all moments Barrymore
was thc artist," Fowler wrote.
"He created out Of his own
texture. He borrowed noth-
ing. He copied nothing. His
whole search was within
himself. His wine was from
his own vine."
The potent combination of intoxicate many audiences
Plummer as Barrymore will before this run is through.
PHOTO BY CYLLA VON TIEDEUANN
BROADWAY BOUND Canadian actor Christopher
Plummer returned to his Stratford Festival roots last week
for the world premiere of the play Barrymore. It is about
the troubled but gifted legend of the American stage, John
Barrymore. The combination of Plummer and the charac-
ter he plays is electric entertainment.
Era ends soon with last dance at Paradise
BY DAVID SCOTT
Exposilor Editor
After more than 25 years of
toc-tapping and foot stomp-
ing, the Family Paradise
dance hall at RR 4 Walton
will soon close its doors.
Goderich popular
Seaforth Reeve Bill Bennett
reported to council last.
Tuesday that official figures
show more than 7,667 people
paid a visit to the museum,
gaol or marine museum in
Godcnch in July.
Bennett represents this
town on Huron County
Council.
Banner on Main
At last Tuesday's meeting,
Seaforth Council granted
Huron United Way permis-
sion to string its banner •
across Main Street from next
Monday until Oct. 31.
Bannockburn hike
The "Fall Hike" at the
Bannockburn Wildlife Arca
,near Varna is Sunday, Oct. 6
from _2 to 4 p.m., hosted once
again by the Ausablc
Bayfield Conservation
Authority. Would-be hikers
are advised to bring their
mugs for hot apple cider.
Badley -Taylor
Brian and Hazel Taylor,
of Stratford, announce
the forthcoming marriage
of their daughter Clare, to
Rob Badley, son of Reg
Badley, of Seaforth, and
Diane Badley, of
Scarborough.
The wedding will take
place at 3:30 p.m. on
Saturday, September 21,
1996, at Knox
Presbyterian Church,
Stratford.
When owners Peter and
Lillian Raithby took over the
business seven years ago
from John and Judy George,
they'd have to turn away peo-
ple at the. regular Saturday
night dances because the
250 -person capacity hall
would be filled so quickly.
The licensed Saturday night
dances, which always feature
live entertainment, have run
from the beginning of April
until mid-December for at
least 26 years.
"The Glanvilles started the
dances. They moved an old
wooden frame church (to the
Family Paradise site). There's
been three additions to it. Bill
Mott opened Family Paradise
26 years ago as an official
park and he continued the
dances," said Peter Raithhy.
Today's owners regret the
decision to end the regular
Saturday outing but declining
attendance hasn't made the
event economically feasible.
From full houses of 250. a
good attendance lately would
be 70 people. And soma
Saturdays there's hecn less
than 30 out, according to
Raithhy.
The dances, which catered
to an older crowd, featured
bands like The Wilbces, The
Entertainers, Royal Aires and
Happy 55t1i
Wedding
Anniversary
Wesley & Agnes Russell
September 20th
Congratulations
Morn & )ad
• Love: Margaret Jean
& Ivan
Joe Tiffin's Orchestra among
others.
"it's one of the last dance
halls of its type in the arca.
People said it, had the hest
hardwood floor in thc coun-
ty," said Raithhy.
Two couples who have
attended the dances almost
steadily since they started arc
Gcorgc and Wilina Maddess
of Milverton and Ivan and
Marion Hinz of Mitchell.
The last Saturday night
dance at the Family Paradise
dance hall will he held the
weekend after next
(September 28) from 9 p.m.
to 1 a.m. with the Royal.
Aires performing.
"We'll miss it," said
Raithhy.
Shoemaker awards rescued
Creative writers in Huron
and Perth Counties can par-
ticipate in the Dorothy
Shoemaker Literary Awards,
rescued from this year's gov-
ernment spending cuts by an
endowment through the
Kitchener Waterloo
Community Foundation.
The awards are 27 -years -
old and named after the for-
mer chief librarian of the K-
W Public Library "who
enthusiastically encouraged
aspiring writers throughout
her career."
The awards solicit creative
writing submissions in poetry
and prose (to 5,1)00 words) in
three age categories: junior,
12 -and -under; intermediate.
13 to 17., and, senior (18 or
older).
Winners receive a cash
prize and their work is print -
Forthcoming Marriage
Jim and Jaren Cronin
are pleased to announce
the forthcmintttg marriage
of their (laughter
.Julie Lynne
to
Ihva_vne Russell
son of
Rusty and Bea Hoekstra
The wedding will be
celebrated om
September 28, 1996
at 3:00 p.m. at
St. Columban Church
ed in the annual publication
of the Shoemaker awards.
This year's judge is estab-
lished short story writer. nov-
elist and editor Veronica Ross
of Kitchener. She is now
associate editor of The
Antigonish Review and,
among other things, served as
fiction editor of the Canadian
Author until the end of 1995.
• A total of 18 public
libraries and five school
boards in Huron, Perth,
Bruce, Oxford, Brant,
Dufferin, Grey, and
Wellington Counties, as well
as the Regional Municipality
of Waterloo have agreed to
promote the awards and
make entry forms available.
Entries must be submitted
by Fri., Oct. 4.
GRADUATION
Brian James Melady
Graduated from the
University of Guelph on
June 7, 1996, reviving a
Bachelor of Cdmmerce�
degree. He was on the
Dean's Honour List. Brian is
currently employed with
Farm Credit Corporation in
the Listowel office.
Congratulations Brian on
your achievement and best
wishes for continued success
and happiness. Love from
your family.
WEDDING
On Saturday, August :list, 1996 Jean Wolfe and
Jeff DeJong were united in marriage, with Rev.
Morgan officiating. The Bride is the slaughter of
Fernand and Monique Vantyghem of RR#4 Seaforth
and the Groom is the son of Gordon and Mary
Dejong of RR#2 Seaforth. Susie Robinson, friend of
the bride was maid of honour and Melisa Wolfe,
daughter of the bride, was a hridemaid. The hestman
was Pat De Jong, brother of the groom and the rasher
was Derrick 1{'olfe, son of the Bride. 'I'm the ring
guy" was Michael Wolfe, son of the bride. Following
the reception at the Seaforth Agricultural Building
and a short honeymoon (our bosses wounitln't give
us time off) the couple are now residing in Seaforth.
Jeff and Jean would like to say a special Thank
You to Bou.ssey at Boussey's Beauty Boutique and
Andrea at Fine Romance for your job well done. To
Susie for all her help and friendship. And to all our
family and friends for their Blessings and Best
Wishes.
Buck & Doe
for
Paul (Wally) Janmaat
and
Lori Strong
Fri. Sept. 20/96
9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Tickets $5.00 per person
Age of Majority
Lunch Provided
For more
information phone
522-0876
or
522-9148
BUCK & DOE
for
Jim Shortreed
Valerie Laverty
Friday,
September 27th,
1996
9:00 p.m. -1:00 a.m.
Age of Majority
Tickets $5.00 each
For info and tickets
phone 527-1247 or
527-0933
Happy 40th
Bonnie Van Bergen
Giddy Up & Grow
Royal Canadian
Legion
Br. 156 Seaforth -
presents
"LEGION
WEEK"
Saturday, Sept. 21
Pub Afternoon
-3 pm
Entertainment 7-11
• Meat Draws •
• Horse Races •
Seaforth
Intermediate
Girls' Hockey
.(Lambton County League)
Ages 14-19
Ice Time: Sunday, Sept. 22/96
at 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Where: Seaforth Arena
*Full Equipment*
For further information please call
527-2258
•
LONG DISTANCE, CALL 1•SOO-265.3438 FOR TOIL FREE MOVIE INFO
•,