Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-02-08, Page 19News The Huron Expositor • February 8, 2006 Page 19 Seaforth native's play about Stompin' Tom Connors to premiere this summer in Blyth b Dave Scott takes four years and three versions perfecting play Susan Hundertmark It all began at his brother's Bruce Peninsula cottage where Seaforth's Dave Scott spent an afternoon read- . ing a Stompin' Tom Connors biogra- phy and listening to a tape of the Canadian songwriter's music. "I'd never seen him in concert but I had a few albums. I was blown away by the story of his life. Most people think of him as a funny char- acter but there are many dimen- sions to him - he's had an extremely hard life and he's a true survivor," says Scott. More than four years later, Scott's new play on Stompin' Tom's life is undergoing final revisions for a world premiere at the Blyth Festival this summer from July 27 to Aug. 12. And, Scott, who spent last Thanksgiving at Stompin'n,.Tom's house at a location he's not allowed to disclose, is even more impressed by the man who travelled Canada coast-to-coast with a guitar and wrote songs about small town life. "He's a Canadian icon. He has the Order of Canada and two honourary doctorates. He came 13th in the Seaforth native Dave Scott plays Canadian music Connors in a game of chess this past Thanksgiving. Greatest Canadian contest last year, beating out every other Canadian artist. And, he deserves a lot more recognition," says Scott. After writing three other plays for the Blyth Festival - one of which, There's Nothing in the Paper, was staged in 1997 - Scott was so inspired by Stompin' Tom's biography, he decided to try and write a play about his life. "I thought, `I can't believe no one's written a play about him.' You could easily write a dozen plays about him there are so many stories," says Scott. The first step was to gain Connors' permis- sion and Scott took advantage of a Seaforth con- nection to get started. Ron Scott, a distant relative who is also from Seaforth, is now working for EMI Capitol Records, Community Calendar WED. FEB. 8 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. Rhyme Time Ontario Early Years Program at Duff's United Church, Walton 1:00-4:00 p.m. Seniors shuffleboard at the arena THURS. FEB. 9 10:00 - 11:30 am - Baby Time Ontario Early Years at Seaforth Co -Operative Children's Centre Centre FRI. FEB. 10 9:30-11:30 a.m. Story Fun Ontario Early Years Program, Brussels Library basement 9:30-11:15 a.m. Play and Learn Early Years program, Grey Central School, Ethel • 10:00 a.m. - Morning Out at Bethel Bible Church, Seaforth SAT. FEB. 11 6:30 a.m. Ducks vs Bruins 7:30 a.m. Oilers vs Sharks 8:30 a.m. Blues vs Panthers 9:30 a.m. Leafs vs Oilers MON. FEB. 13 9:30-11:00 a.m. ABC 123 Ontario Early Years Program at St. James School TUES. FEB. 14 10-1 1:30 a.m Ontario Early Years Play and Learn at Seaforth Public School 4-5 p.m. After school shinny . 7:30 p.m. - Seaforth Harmony Hi-Lites rehearsal at Northside United Church 7:30 p.m. Seaforth Hospital Auxiliary meeting in Conference Room #2 WED. FEB. 15 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. - Rhyme Time Ontario EarlyYears Program at Duff's United Church, Walton 1:00-4:00 p.m. Seniors Shuffleboard at Arena Community Access program at Seaforth Library - Free Computer and Internet Training. Now until Feb. 28/06. Info: 519-527-1430 If you're organizing a non-profit event of interest to other Seaforth area residents, phone the Expositor at 527-0240, or mail the information to Community Calendar, The Huron Expositor, Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO well in advance of the scheduled date. Free listing includes date, time, name of event and location only. Space for the Community Calendar is donated by The Huron Expositor. Submitted photo legend Stompin' Tom the company that reissued a com- plete catalogue of Connors' entire library of songs in the late 1980s. Dave talked to Ron Scott (son of Vern Scott) and asked for some advice about how to approach Stompin' Zbm. Given the advice that Stompin' Tom "doesn't suffer fools gladly," Scott wrote Connors "an honest, straight -forward letter," sharing his desire to write a play along with some evidence of his credentials. "I never heard back. And, I thought, 'Of course he's not respond- ing - I'm a stranger he's never heard of before.'" says Scott. A few months later, he decided to take 'a gamble and write half a play and send it to Connors. "And, if he didn't like it, I wouldn't have wasted huge amounts of time," says Scott. After another few months, he sent away Act 1 and waited another month before receiving a typewrit ten letter from Connors, telling Scott he'd liked what he saw but was currently negotiating film rights for his life story and didn't know how it would impact a play. He left Scott with the encourage- ment to keep writing. The biggest thrill came after Connors had received the whole script. Scott arrived home one day and his son infd'rmed him he'd received a prank call from his broth- er Bruce, pretending to be Stompin' • Tom. But, when Scott played back the message, a "big, deep voice" said, "This is Stompin' Tom," and Scott knew he hadn't received a joke call at all. "I called him back and we went over the script, which only needed a few minor changes. And, I :consid ered that an honour," says Scott. It took Scott four years and three: different versions to arrive at the play that will be performed this summer. "They've put me through the ringer to get the best script possible. It's been a lot of work but the third works well and I'm hoping people will like it," says Scott. Act 1 takes the theatre audience through Stompin' Tom's childhood from the time he was taken away from his mother in the early 1940s at age 5, to his terrible years with a foster family in Skinner's Pond, PEI, where he was treated as a hired hand to his eighth and finally successful attempt to run away to New Brunswick at age 15. "He was on the road with a guitar at age 15 and never stopped. He's criss-crossed Canada many times and played in bars and speakeasies where he earned a name and a liv- ing," says Scott. Act 2 is about Stompin' Tom's careor as it takes off and becomes a success. The play is filled with Stompin' Tom's songs including favourites like lb It and At It, Bud the Spud and Sudbury Saturday Night. "He's written so many fun songs it was hard to choose," says Scott. And, while Stompin' 'Ibm's written about many small towns, such as Tillsonburg, Scott says he''s never featured Seaforth in a song. "But, we can't give up hope - he's turning 70 this month but he's still writing songs." Scott says he's excited a play about a great Canadian will be pre- miering at the Blyth Festival. And, while Stompin' Tom will not be attending the play during open- ing night, Scott says he may show up during a rehearsal or be in the audience unannounced during the run of the play. "He's a private guy and he said he might sneak into one of the shows. But, I can't imagine no one recog- nizing him with that big cowboy hat," says Scott.