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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2005-08-24, Page 5Opinion Blyth's I'll Be Back Before Midnight a unique blend of humour, terror By Jennifer Hubbard Clinton News -Record Staff Peter Colley's I'll Be Back Before Midnight has been thrilling audiences around the world for more than 25 years, but Blyth's latest rendition of the play offers much more to its audiences. In a story of city meets country, I'll Be Back Before Midnight begins innocently enough with young couple Greg and Jan — played by Gil Garratt and Sarah Allen — moving to an out-of-the-way country home in an attempt to save their marriage. The couple's dreams of a quiet retreat are short-lived however, as friendly whiskey -drinking neighbour George (John Dolan) stops in to share a few tales of the house's ghostly past. Already on a mental edge, the news leaves Jan grasping at the straws of her former life in the city. A surprise visit from Greg's controlling and way too close for comfort sister Laura (Joanna Schellenberg) pushes fragile Jan into a world where the line between reality and nightmares begins to blur. In a dark, quiet theatre — interrupted briefly by a much -anticipated gunshot — the audience gets dragged into a whirlwind of events as the couple discovers the many mysteries that lie in THE HURON EXPOSITOR, August 24, 2005 - 5 SEAFORTH 527-0120 EXETER 235-2121 www teamvincent.com Terry Manzo photo Sarah Allen and John Dolan perform in I'll Be Back Before Midnight at the Blyth Festival. their new home. Set mainly in the living room of the 50s -era farmhouse, the warm design can be credited to designer Charlotte Dean who worked on the wardrobe staff of the premiere production at Blyth in 1979. She describes her work as "a homage to all the great movies that you get on your home tv set on Saturday night." The small cast of four shone in their roles. Allen nervously twittered throughout the set, wound just tight enough to offset Garratt, the eccentric scientist husband. Schellenberg's portrayal of a nosy, demeaning sister-in- law makes one appreciate the minor flaws of your own family, while Dolan's country hick character steals the spotlight in a number of scenes with his hilarious wit. Mined for all of its "Hitchcock-ian potential," I'll Be Back Before Midnight offers a unique blend of terror and humour — a pleasant surprise to many significant others in the audience whose arms were News spared. Director Eric Coates hit the nail on the head with his unique interpretation of Colley's classic, which premiered at the Blyth Festival in 1979. I'll Be Back Before Midnight has been produced in over 24 countries — most recently Kenya — every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada. The latest rendition opened at the Blyth Festival Theatre on Aug. 16 and will run until Sept. 3. Local committee still working to have St. Columban church heritage evaluated By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor While the St. Columban parish council is still in the process of requesting tenders for the demolition of its church. which had its final mass in June, a local committee is still attempting to have the church evaluated for its "cultural heritage value." Thomas Ryan, of Mitchell, a former parishioner in St. Columban, received a letter from Ontario Culture Minister Madeleine Meilleur Aug. 10 that encouraged him to pursue an evaluation of the church property. "You mention that you consider the property to be of local, if not provincial historic significance. I am concerned to hear that this 150 -year-old property may be demolished without prior evaluation of its cultural heritage value," says the letter Van parked in Hensall damaged A van parked in Hensall was damaged by cooking grease on Aug. 18. reports the Huron OPP. A green 1999 Dodge Caravan, parked in an apartment complex parking lot in Hensall had cooking grease thrown all over it sometime during the night. Anyone with related information is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. McTaggart Wettlaufer INSURANCE BROKERS INC. • AUTO • HOME • FARM • TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL • LIFE INSURANCE BROKERS Paul Wettlaufer Amy Siemon Suzanne Zehr Bill Siemon Ken Hutchison 68 Ontario Rd. 348-9150 Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 from Meilleur. Thomas Ryan attempted to have the property designated in early July and attended a meeting of Huron East council promoting the idea. But, after hearing from parish council members Gerry Ryan and Kevin Kale that members of the St. Columban Church, which was closed by the London Diocese in the spring, wished to demolish the building, council decided against pursuing a designation. Thomas Ryan, who says he is sitting on an "unofficial" committee of six area people, says that as long as a demolition permit has not yet been issued by Huron East to destroy the church building, he will keep trying to save the building. "We are trying to come up with a plan to make the building viable as a heritage or cultural centre. The community is losing a great asset if the church is allowed to he demolished. I would hate to drive by and see that lovely edifice destroyed," says Thomas Ryan. Thomas Ryan says the church could be used for meetings, banquets, daycare for farm children and various other uses. "We want tourists - well, what are we going to show them if our historic buildings are torn down," he says. However, Gerry Ryan says the parish council voted to tear down the building in April and hasn't heard "a word of complaint" in the St. Columban community about the decision. "They didn't want to see the church building disintegrate everytime they drove by. It's not a church anymore and the only option is to tear it down," says Gerry Ryan. The parish held an "internal sale" a month ago for parishioners who had an opportunity to buy sections of pews and pictures from inside the church. Religious articles were donated to other parishes and schools with items going to St. Joseph's School, St. Columban School and St. Anne's Secondary School. A number of statues went to Father Devereaux in Peterborough who has roots in the St. Columban area. "The building is pretty much bare now. The only thing left is the stained glass windows and we're hoping to give those back to the people who donated them," says Gerry Ryan. He says the parish council is still looking for a contractor to take down the church and has not been given a demolition permit yet. "There is no date set; we haven't hired anyone but we are looking at some companies. We'd like to have it down before the snow flies," says Gerry Ryan. Walter Armes, Huron East's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee advisor, says that while he recommended council begin the process of designating the church as an historic building, council has already been through the process recommended in the letter by the Minister of Culture. "Unless there's some new and startling reason. 1 can't see why council would want to revisit it," he says. He artiiiicI q*LV Community Credit Union Limited h7re're membership makes the (Offerenre Special Term Deposit Investment A GREAT RATE 3.20% * FIXED RATE - GUARANTEED FOR 13 MONTHS °for a limited time only, CLINTON - Head Office/Branch 48 Ontario Street (519) 482-3466 rate subject to change EXETER 118 Main Street N. (519) 235-0640 LISTOWEL Smith's Market Square (519) 291-6189 NOTICE Re Town Pick Ups For Central Huron Secondary School Duke St. & East William St. (Curling Rink) Victoria St. & Gouinlock St. (Victoria Park) Adam St. & Goderich St. W. Jarvis St. & Lloyd Eisler St. Kruse Dr. & Stapleton Ave, Egmondville 8:10 a.m. 8:10 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:10 a.m. St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School St. James School Ann St. & Goderich St. W. Church St. & James St. Lloyd Eisler St. & Isabella St. 8:10 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:15 a.m. 8:10 a.m. Please go to the nearest stop Any questions, Call Murphy Bus Lines, Seaforth 522-1222 nvited to attend these area churches Thomas Anglican Church A Congregation of the Parish of The Hoy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth Parish Office 527-1522 Sunday, August 28th Worship at 9:30 a.m. EVERYONE WELCOME St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm. Sun. 11:00 am Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday Worship Hour 10 am EVERYONE WELCOME Egmondville United Church Service time remains at 10:30 a.m. until Sept. 11 Guest Speakers: Sun. Aug. 28 - Faye Carnochan-Murray Sun. Sept. 4 - Les Hills Sept. 11 - Sunday School kickoff and Grandpa) Day Celebration beginning al 9:30 a.m. Church service begins at 11 a.m. NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould Sunday, August 28th Worship 11 a.m. Sermon: God's Rock First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sun., Aug. 28 - Back to Regular 11:15 a.m. Services Topic: "Rebuilding" , Tuckersmlth Day Nursery Is proudly CELEBRATING 30 YEARS! Join us OPEN HOUSE and FALL REGISTRATION! Aug. 22 to Sept. 2 Daily tours at 3 pm or call us! Also... Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005 for a fun Celebration with Dickie Bird 10 am In the gym. Everyone Welcome! • Quality Licensed services to children 16mth-12yrs • Large outdoor playground, Indoor pool and gym • Building Blocks Early Literacy Program - Friday mornings • Reasonable Fees - Receipts for Income Tax We also offer: KIDS CREW Care before & after school, as well as school holidays; Nursery School Program! 26 Toronto Blvd. 482-7634