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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-07-15, Page 15t• THE INCREDIBLE MAGICAL DELFODIL— The forces of good and evil clash in this children's production which opened Saturday at Huron Country Playhouse. Aggie Cekuta as Susan, Scott Hurst as Delf and Allison Grant as Astra take on Colin Legge as Zork and Catherine Hennig as Kalfang. In front is Philadelphia, the plastic creature from outer spore. The ploy continues each Sliturday morning throughout this summer, except August 1 Staff photo Crashat main corner, both drivers charged Three charges have been laid as the result of an acci- dent at Grand Bend's main intersection, which Constable S. Thomson of the Grand Bend detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police investigated. Cars driven by John Brown of Bosanquet township and ameron Hadley of Rochester, Michigan collid- ed. Brown is being charged with failing to stop, while Hadley is being charged with care and control of a motor vehicle while exceeding 80 mgs alcohol, and impaired driving. Provincial police at Grand Bend investigated three thefts this week, and the value of the stolen goods was about $90. Lawn chairs seemed to be a popular item disappearing this week. Police recovered a stolen vehicle valued at $18,000. Liquor charges kept the detachment busy. One charge was laid for impaired driving, while 17 people were charged with convey- ing liquor in a vehicle. There were 26 charges laid for un- lawful consumption of alcohol, and 51 charges laid under the liquor licence act. 9 The detachment in- vestigated eight minor vehi- cle accidents. One person was charged for assault, and seven disturbances were in- vestigated. Two missing persons were sought, in addition t1►128 general occurrences- which the detachment handled. Three accidents mar day at Pinery Three accidents last Sun- day kept police at Pinery Park busy. Constable D.J. Cardwell investigated a crash inside the park when a car struck a tree along the Pinery's main road. Damage was estimated at $2,000, and the driver of the car, David Banda, Windsor escaped injury. Later Constable R. L. Hodge investigated a car - van accident at the entranee of Pinery Park. Total damage was estimated at $800. Driver of the van was Douglas W. Luening, Kitchener, and the driver of the car' was Jeffrey Jax, of Warren, Michigan. There were no injuries. Also that same day, police IIIll1t111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII11IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Mary's musings BY MARY ALDERSON I don't have a column this week. It's been hot and lazy, and generally uninspiring. Besides, the paper is small this week, and there just isn't that much room to fill. You see. I had planned to complain about the postal strike, but everybody's do- ing that anyway. However, I can blame my lack of inspiration on the strike. I am a Maclean's magazine addict, and for two weeks now, I've had nothing to read. I sit down when I get the magazine, and read the whole thing, front to back. I end up with some of Allan Fotheringham's "bafflegab", which usually inspires me to write my own column. But alas, no magazines have been coming through. I was very excited when I drove up to the mail box the other day, and noticed that the little red flag was up. • But to my disappointment I found no real mail, only bills. For example, the oil com- pany managed to somehow get a bill to us for $1.57. Did they come and put $1.57 worth of oil in our tank? 1 doubt it. Besides we haven't used the furnace since May 24th. So here we have a bill for $1.57, and I can't even write Wick to find out why they are demanding that sum, The gasoline people going to let you get with anything either. other day when I fill my car, and handed cashier my credit card handed me back a nice note from the folks at They want me to guess much 1 owe them, and at my bank. 1 love gu games. " aren't away The ed up the , she little Esso. how yit. ling Other than that there just isn't much more to say about the mail strike. r}r}� I can try, but I can't really use the hot weather as an ex- cuse for being uninspired. The truth is, I just love hot weather. Although, the hot, dry weather has meant that I have been spending more time dragging around miles of garden hose, trying to keep my mini -farm green. Which reminds me, I was going to do a column about the garden - so here's a brief farm report; The radishes were great, but they're almost over. We're enjoying the leaf lettuce, and we just had our first batch of peas. They were so good we ate them raw, couldn't wait to cook 'em. There's big green tomatoes on the tomato plants, which should be alright, as long as I keep watering them. And the corn is growing. All we need is rain. Oh yes, this hot weather has meant more oppor- tunities for boating and waterskling. Now, that's a good excuse for not getting a column done!! investigated a crash on highway 21, two miles south of Grand Bend. The two vehicles were driven by Arthur Gee, Florida and Anthony Klaver, Strathroy. Damage to the Gee car was estimated at $400, while the Klaver vehicle had about $200 damage. Passenger Doloris Gee sustained minimal injuries, while all others escaped injury. Constable P.E. Milian in- vestigated the crash. On Saturday, Constable Milian investigated a van - bicycle accident in Pinery Park. Driver of the van was Leo Fujs, Hamilton. The operator of the bicycle, Maizie Gilbert. Windsor, sustained minor injuries. During the week of July 5 to 11. 52 charges were laid under the liquor licence act. There were 12 charges laid under the provincial parks act, and two people were charged for driving while un- der suspension. One im- paired driver was charged. There were 45 charges laid under the highway traffic act, and four thefts were in- vestigated. In addition, the detachment handled 33 mis- cellaneous occurrences. Monster visits Junior playgoers like it/ The Monster came to Grand Bend Saturday. The Monster is the Monster Arm Wrestling Association which travels all over North America visiting bars and taverns asking peo- ple to show off their arm wrestling skills. The organization spent Saturday afternoon and ear- ly evening at Sanders Tavern on Grand Bend's beach Sanders Manager Edward Arnett said the Monster organization sets up the en- tire contest. and comes com- plete with its own public ad- dress system and a machine to equalize the arm wrestlers. There are 52 different Monster units travelling throughout N9rth America at present. This was their first visit to Grand Bend. and the first time that one of their competitions was held out of doors. Sanders staged the event on their patio. About 175 peo- ple crowded around to take part in the contest or watch the action. Arnett reports that few of PROPANE Birch Bark Trailer Park Hwy 83 - 1 '/ mile E. of Hwy. 21 OPEN 7 DAYS 9 - Dusk Phone 238-8256 Inquire at House Beside Propane Tank Children's by Mary Alderson THE INCREDIBLE MAGICAL DELFODIL should be a good play. After all, it has the ingredients of a hit television series, Mork and Mindy, and a hit movie, Star Wars. Combine those with some singing and dan- cing, and you have an enter- taining modern fairy tale. I know the DELFODII was a good play. Two discerning critics told me it was. Feeling rather inadequate when it comes to reviewing children's theatre, I "borrowed" two kids from Keith and Halina Crawford. Kim, 10, and Keith, 5, told me their impressions of DELFODIL. THE INCREDIBLE MAGICAL DELFODIL opened Saturday morning at Huron Country Playhouse. It will be playing every Satur- day at 11:00 a.m. until August 22, except for August 1. Both Kim and Keith thoroughly enjoyed the play. That in itself says something for the production. It seem- ed to appeal to all ages, boys and girls, and even provided the adults in the crowd with several laughs. DELFODIL was written especially for the young players at Huron Country Playhouse by director Rod Menzies. He has certainly done an excellent job of put- ting together a comedy - musical for children, while moving away from the typical nursery rhyme productions. Times -Advocate, July 15, 1981 Page 1 production acclaimed Starring in the play were this year's Young Players — Aggie Cekuta, Scott Hurst, Allison Grant, Colin Legge and Catherine Hennig. These talented young people will also be doing two carbaret performances following regular plays. The cabarets are also under the direction of Menzies. THE INCREDIBLE MAGICAL DELFODIL is the story of a young girl, oh, maybe about 12, who gets tired of her _mother telling her she can only go to the corner and back. She wishes for some outer space travel, and voila!, two beings, Astra and Delf from a far-off planet appear. With Astra and Delf is a plastic creature named Philadelphia, who has lost his magic Delfodil — a very important compo- nent that makes wishes come true. You see, Astra, Delf and Philadelphia have been chased away from their native planet by Kalfang the destroyer, and her right hand man, Zork. Well, the unhappy trio enlist Susan's help and return to their planet to get the Delodil and fight off Kalfang and Zork. A series of adventures take place, but of course, everybody lives happily ever after. Aggie Cekuta is excellent as Susan. Aggie has just Hutton Counts* Playhouse News & Reviews by Mary Alderson Aaron Schwartz and Mar- cia Bennett should have no trouble portraying the roles of a couple who fall in love and get married in CHAPTER TWO. After all they've done it before. I don't mean that they've played these parts in CHAPTER TWO before. But they did fall in love and get married — in real life. The couple is very happy to be in CHAPTER TWO together. and they're enjoy- ing their stay in Grand Bend. "He's my favourite person to work with on stage." Marcia says about her husband. This is the 11th play that Marcia and Aaron have been in together. Aaron agrees that it's nice to be in the same play. and be able to share a cabin iuGrand Bend. The Swartz's are staying at Oakland house with their cats. CHAPTER TWO opens tonight (Wednesday) and runs until July 25 at Huron Country Playhouse. There are matinee performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The play is being directed by Huron Country Playhouse's own artistic director Aileen Taylor - Smith. CHAPTER TWO is an autobiographical play by the king of comedy. Neil Simon. Simon also wrote the SUNSHINE BOYS which was produced at HCP last year at this time. Several of his recent Broadway hits have been made into movies. including the Oscar -winning GOODBYE GIRL, SEEMS LIKE OLI) TiMES, and. of course. CHAPTER TWO. Simon lost his much -loved first wife to cancer, but soon after. he married actress Marsha Mason. In CHAPTER TWO he fic- tionalizes the story somewhat. but the elements are similar. Aaron plays George Schneider. who is the Neil Simon character — but a novelist rather than a playwright.Marcia playsJen- nie Malone. the Marsha Mason type character, with whom George reluctantly falls in love. Marsha Mason played herself in the movie version. along with .James Caan and Valerie Harper. the winners were from the Grand Bend area. Many of the contestants follow the rompetition from place to place "Most of our waiters lost." Arnett said. Arnett said that the program was very successful for the first attempt. and they hope to have the monster back for two visits next summer. With the Schwartz's in the HCP production are A. Frank Ruffo and Barbara Wheeldon. Frank plays George's brother. Leo, who becomes alarmed at George's whirlwind romance so soon after the death of his first wife. Bar- bara plays Faye, Jennie's best friend who introduces George and Jennie. and en- joys her role as a matchmaker. In a sub -plot, Leo and Faye rekindle an old romance. While this sounds as if CHAPTER TWO has all the makings of a hilarious com- edy. there is a serious side, the cast stresses. "It has more depth, not just a wacky situation." Frank says. Mar- cia says that the play has "meat to it", and the others add that it "makes a point". However. Frank says that the "best way to make a point is through humour." Aaron syas that the humour in the play is not created by laughing at the characters. but at the situations. "Simon loves the characters he's written," Aaron says. ft is this feeling that makes;,,Simon's com- edies so successful. When voq come to see CHAPTER TWO, you may get the feeling that you've known the cast all your life. The truth is, they have probably been in your own living room hundreds of times All of them have appeared in numerous television commercials, or you have heard their voices on radio advertisements. Aaron is the deli owner in the Shopsey commercial with Benny Youngman. Marcia has been on Pamper commercials and in radio commercials. Barbara is the one that says "no brekky" in the Carnation Instant Breakfast commercial and Frank. although you won't recognize him, is the "turtle" in the middle, on the Turtles chocolate com- mercials Ile choreographed the dancing turtles. Aaron is no stranger to HCP. having directed the popular FREE AT LAST with ,lack Duffy and Rosemary Radcliffe last summer He is a Canadian. who studied in New York, where he met Marcia. They have been living in Toronto for the past six years. Barbara lust finished ac- ting in ON THE ROCKS at Harbour front. a play written by Andrew McBean who has been starring in THE F'AN I'ASTICKS, as the bov Andrew and Paul Chant collaborated on the musical. Barbara will be back at HCP as Doris in NURSE JANE GOES TO HAWAII. Frank recently played Dracula in the READ ALL ABOI"I' IT series for TV On- tario lip stresses that he likes working with children. The four ,ire enjoying their month long visit in Grand Bend. and say that they work well with director Aileen Taylor -Smith and the crew at }1('P They added that they have found Grand Benders to be friendly, and they especially like the beach cSUTEatE'Z FACTORY OUTLET Main Street, Grand Bend OPEN DAILY Mon - Sat 10 - 5:30 Sunday 12 - 5:30 Mens and ladies All Sizes CAST OF CHAPTER TWO — Aaron Schwartz and his wife Marcia Bennett (left) will have no trouble playing the parts of a couple who fall in love and get married in Chapter Two. Starring with them is A. Frank Ruffo and Barbara Wheeldon. Chapter Two is a Neil Simon comedy, which opens today at 'The Huron Country Playhouse. Staff photo Mail strike hurts local playhouse While all of us are finding the mail strike an in- convenience. it is seriously effecting small businesses. And if your'business is a non- profitorganization.the strike really hurts. says Heather Redick. general manager and publicity director at Huron Country Playhouse. Heather explains that the playhouse depends a great deal on the press releases that it sends out for its publicity Because of the mail strike. none of the releases have been going out. Heather worries that the children's production, which= opened Saturday. has not received sufficient publicity. There is no money in the Young ('onipany's budget for advertising. Getting tickets out has also been curtailed by the strike. Because of the strike, the playhouse has to hold tickets ordered over the phone. Then because those making the phone orders have not paid any money, they may not feel an obliga- tion to show up, and the tickets sit useless. The strike has also brought fund-raising to a standstill. Mailouts soliciting donations sit 'idle. waiting for the end of the strike. Let's hope the strike doesn't severely harm the playhouse Remember to give it your support through attendance. ticket sales and donat ions. Best Interest 4,171/2% We represent many Trust Companies. We are often able to arrange for the highest interest be- ing offered on Guaranteed Investment Cer- tificates. ' subject to change r� Gaiser-Kneale Insurance Agency Inc. EXETER GRAND BEND 235-2420 238-8484 CANTON 482-9747 We'll Do the Job Right... Whotever the prosect, coil on us for Ready -Mix Concrete • RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • FARM (Including Manure Tanks) FREE ESTIMATES C. A. McDOWELL LTD.' EXETER, ONTARIO Plant: 235-0833 Office: 235-1969 finished starring the THE FANTASTICKS at HCP as the girl, and her beautiful singing voice highlights the music in DELFODIL. Susan is 21, a music student at the University of Toronto. Scott Hurst provides much of the comedy as Delf — who loses his voice and can only cluck like a chicken. Scott, 21, is from St. Catharines, and a student at Brock University. Allison Grant plays Astra, and the Ape. Her facial ex- pressions and voice tones created giggles from the children. She is 24, and has graduated.in music from the University of. Western On- tario. Colin Legge plays Zork, an Alien, and does the voice of the Carnie Barker. Colin, 20, is a native of London, and is studying acting at Ryerson. He excelled with his robot like movements as a space being learning how to dance to rock and roll. Catherine Hennig, was terrifying as the evil Kalfang. She also played an alien, and did the voice of Mom. Catherine is 18, and comes from Calgary. She is currently studying theatre at York University. After the play, Keith's_ evaluation was simple — he liked all of it. Kim, however, was more analytical and offered these comments. She especially liked Zork (Colin Legge) when he was dancing like a robot, and she liked the idea of a little romance budding between Susan and Zork at the end of the story. a la Mork and Min- dy. Kim also liked Delf's (Scott Hurst) clucking, and his transformation when he regained his voice. She en- joyed the number where Susan and Astra sang a chorus in the background, as Deli burst into song. Kalfang (Catherine Hen - nig), Kim says, is a good ac- tress because she could produce such a "mean laugh". Both Kim and Keith were impressed by the aliens in their purple costumes. As well, they enjoyed the special effects — Philadelphia's strange voice, the cloud of smoke, and of course, magic" of the delf odi 1, The play did suffer from some opening -day technical problems, which should be ironed out in the future productions. In any case, the difficulties didn't seem to bother the audience in the least. Poor plastic Philadelphia was knocked over in the ear- ly part of the play, and lost some compenents, but as they say. the show must go on. Later, a slide projector refused to work, and it appeared that some bulbs on the back curtain failed to light up. One other problem — Kim and I couldn't see what the ape house scene had to do with the rest of the play, and we don't think that it added much. Also Kim wondered if Susan ever got home for supper in time, but said, "they left that for us to think about." Anyway, Kim, Keith and I agreed that it was a pretty good way to spend a Satur- day morning. Twsp of Bosanquet Garbage Notice The arrangements at Grand Bend dump site on July 18, 1981 have been cancelled. • The only siding with the steel -plus -vinyl difference! Take steel add layers of zinc the ca•s .+ a thick polyvinyl chloride iP\ C t'ou ve got Stelco Ultragard S d a ",: supreme' There s never been a s c! - „k.' re.% Stele° Ultragard Src: ru s protection to put betxeen eather' NEW STELCO ULTRAGARD SIDING JIM B CHER 237-3526 CONSTRUCTION