Times-Advocate, 1986-06-25, Page 5Blythopener a smash hit
Another Season's promise, ,the
opening play of the 19m Blyth
Festival, has all the ingredients
necessary for a smash hit - a power-
ful script wrapped around a relevant
theme and brought to life by a superb
cast.
The play depicts the plight of
farmer Ken Purvis, trying desperate-
ly to stave off the inevitable loss of the
family farm until his fiesty, land -
proud old mother is no longer around
to see another's name on the gatepost.
He tries to bear the entire burden
himself, despite anguished pleas by
wife Helen to share the dark secret
hidden in the account books.
Knowing that money is scarce, the
pre -marriage head OR nurse re-
enters the work force as a nurse's
aide in the local nursing home.
Jane Noonan, a young neighbour
whose husband drowned mysterious-
ly last year, has been working on the
books with Ken, but must now
squeeze that activity into her spare
time, as she has accepted a job with
the giant foreignfirm that is gobbling
up more and more farms in the area.
She urges Purvis to sell his farm
while he still can.
Purvis faces other pressure;. His
implement dealer wants him to par-
ticipate in penny auctions, farm gate
defense, and other radical tactics
devised by the Survivalist Association
to counter bank take-overs of debt -
ridden farms. Son Robert pops in to
deposit grandson Sandy with his
grandparents while be and career
wife head off to Greece for a holiday.
Robert carelessly forgets to'leave any
money from the pair's combined
$80,000 salary to even pay for a pair
of workboots for the boy.
Rubbing salt in the wound is suc-
cessful brother-in-law Ed, arriving in
Cadillac comfort to pick up a little
hobby farm at a bargain now that
prices are depressed, and drop the
fact he made a killing in corn futures
last winter.
Tension builds as a decent, honest,
industriouman watches the work of
a lifetime slip away. Absentee owner-
ship, abuse of the land, the role of the
banks, mental depression, marriage
break-up and suicide are among the
issues dealt with in this play.
All is not doom and gloom. Zingy
one-liners and earthy humour provide
needed relief.
THE GENERATIONS — Granny recalls the old days in a scene from
Another Season's Promise.
ofden
Sunday was an extremely hot day,
but this did not hamper the crowd
from coming to our mid-season Mimi-.
ly Dinner. We served a total of 219
guests besides our 64 residents plus
home staff and the members of the
Auxiliary who ably assisted in both
kitchen and dining rooms. This was
a good initiation for our new
auditorium which has been furnished
with tables and chairs for use on just
such occasions as this. As a result, we
were able to serve the guests in half
the time, making it more pleasant for
all concerned.
A special thank you goes to our
musicians as well. Mrs. Grace Mar-
tin entertained the crowd with'organ
music, Mr. Nelson Howe played the
violin, Mr. George Mathonia the ac-
cordion and Mr. Norris, the banjo and
delighted the audience with toe tapp-
ing music.
Miss Idella Gabel pleased the
guests with her renditions of both
organ and piano numbers. We are in-
deed grateful to them for relin-
quishing their Sunday afternoon.
Thanks again to all our volunteer help
who make this event possible.
Last Tuesday evening was the
Home's 21st Annual Meeting.
Resignations were accepted from
Board of Directors members as
follows: Lloyd Walper, Member at
Large, replaced by Tony Bedard,
Harold Erb, representing Blake Men-
nonite Church, replaced by Lee Erb,
Earl Desch representing St. Peter's
R.C. Church, replaced by Paul
j elm/14 e3
Steckle, Clement Regier, represenri
ting St. Peter's R. C. Church, replac-
ed by Gerard Ducharme and Earl
Horner of the Emmanuel United
Church, Zurich, replacement to be
announced.
On Wednesday evening the Goshen
United Church sponsored the June
birthday party. Musical numbers
were played by Marjorie Hayter, An-
na Keys, Ross Cummings, Dave
Brereton and Bill Linfield.
A very entertaining fashion show.
was presented with Marg. Robinson
as commentator and the music by;
Marj. Hayter. Models were Marg.
Robinson, Joan Van Slightenherst,
MargieElliott, Jane Knox, Elizabeth
Clarke, Joyce and Jean Armstrong
Hayley Linfield, Blanche Park,
Vanessa Knox, Leslie Linfjeid, Kelly
Ratcliffe, Evelyn McKinley and Lin-
dy Linfield. Following the program,
a delicious lunch was served.
Residents having birthdays during
the month of June were Marcella
Dietrich, Ruby Hoggarth, Magdalene
Jantzi, Beatrice Overholt and Norma
Parkins.
The sympathy of residents and staff
is extended to the family of the late
Mrs. Alice Haberer. Some of the
residents enjoyed Ebus trip through
the Grand Bend area on IAriday after-
noon. We welcome Mrs. Ruth
Warner, formerly of the Apartments,
as a new resident. Bingo was played
on Friday evening followed by
refreshments. The Sunday evening
chapel service was cancelled due to
the family dinner.
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David Foot is perfect as Ken Purvis.
Watching him, we suspend disbelief.
He is real, his troubles are real, and
he makes us care about what happens
to him.
Veteran actress Araby Lockhart
brings Helen Purvis to pulsating life.
Every gesture, every move, every
verbal inflection contributes another
brushstroke to the picture of the farm
wife down the road.
Margaret Barton's Granny is
delightful. We all know someone just
like that old lady, someone still agile
in mind and body, enjoying such
modern wonders as colour TVs con-
trolled by a hand-held converter while
harkening back to a simpler time
when the egg money from the
chickens purchased those little extras
and "a widow didn't have to sell her
children's land because everyone
pulled together".
The play's only weakness is its ir-
resolute and anticlimatic ending,
leaving some loose threads that
should be tied up. However, as the last
scene ebbs away the audience has
time to wipe away any tell-tale tear
and get emotions under control before
the lights come on.
Another Season's Promise was
commissioned by the Blyth Theatre,
and co-authored by Keith Roulston,
author of the hit "Fire on Ice," and
Anne Chislett, winner of the 1983
Governor General's Drama award for
the memorable "Quiet In The Land."
The play was conceived two years
ago, when Chislett was asked to do
something about absentee ownership
of farm land. She approached
Roulston, who suggested they build
around the many problems facing
agriculture, and their ramifications
on all of society. The successful col-
laboration's goal is put into the mouth
of the implement dealer, who says
"We're trying to hit the farmers who
aren't in trouble and think it's the
others own fault; it couldn't happen
to them. Farmers - good and bad -
better stick together. No one • else
gives a damn."
Anyone who sees this play will give
a damn. Those in the same leaking
boat will empathize, and others sail-
ing blithely by may be motivated to
turn around and ask what they can do
to help.
Another Season's Promise deserves
a wide -spread audience, to bring
hometo+thosefar removed from the
rural scene an awareness of what is
happening in an industry that direct-
ly and indirectly provides 20 percent
of C da's jobs. _
Juas a century ago Charles
Dickens .used books to attack such
evils as child labour and debtor's pri-,
sidtt1 Roulston and Chislett have com-
bined their progigioua talents to shine
a spotlight on crushing debt loads,
commodity pricqsbelow the cost of
production and oh er problems that
are driving ma6y farmers off land
that has been in their families for
three and foto' generations.
Agriculture minister Jack Riddell
was among those attending the
premiere. He said he identified
strongly with the play, noting it was
not an exaggeration. but a realistic
portrayal of what many farmers have
been telling him.
"I wouldn't want any doctors com-
ing up to me right now. I'd be apt to
say 'You think you have problems?
You don't know what problems are"'..
he remarked.
Riddell foresees a "rocky road"
ahead for 30 percent of Ontario
farmers, the five percent whose debt
to equity ratio is so high nothing can
save them, and the 25 percent who are
on the brink-aTthat same black hole.
The remaining 70 percent "will make
it with a bit of help", even though they
ta are seeing their equity erode.
Riddell mentioned the Ontario OF -
FIR interest -reducing program and
FIT (Farmers in Transition) which
assists farmers leaving their farms to
readjust. Federal agriculture
minister John Wise was so impress-
ed with the latter he asked Riddell
recently to explain FIT to the other
provincial agriculture ministers, and
indicated he is considering a similar
program at the federal level, Riddell
said.
Riddell promised to invite his col-
leagues to come to Blyth to see
Another Season's Promise.
t ta'waw t E3j' ,:
RETIREMENTS — A luncheon was held at ARC Industries to say farewell to two retirees. Shown with
SHDAMH executive director John Gray are Evelyn Elder, resigning'after four years as teacher at the
Huron Hope Nursery School, and Amite Cann, retiring after 19 years as a volunteer and as a member
of the Children's Services.Committee. Volunteer Myra Lovell, chairperson of Children's Services and
a SHDAMH director, is at the right.
Hay accepts Pergel dram petition
Hay council responded to a signed
petition for repair to the Pergel
municipal drain brought by Violet
Pergel at the regular second June
meeting by appointing W.J. Bartlett
and Associates to bring in a
preliminary report on cost of repairs
and assessment charges.
Deputy Reeve Claire Deichert, ac-
ting in the absence of Reeve Lionel
Wilder, explained that a report was
necessary in order to include owners
of 69 acres taken off the St. Joseph's
Airport drain and added to the Pergel
drain since the last maintenance
schedule was drafted. The
preliminary report will allow council
to determine the estimated cost of
repair, and ascertain the willingness
of other affected property owners to
share these costs.
Road superintendent Ross Fisher
reported a saving of $4,000 by using
calcium chloride instead of salt
brine, and a further $9,000 on the
estimated cost of tarring and chipp-
ing concessions 2-3 and 12-13. He said
the paving company had done a neat,
Seniors enjoy picnic
By MIK. IRVIN RADER
Dashwood
Dashwood Senior Citizens met Mon-
day June 16 for a pot luck picnic sup-
per with Mrs. AliceTieman's group
in charge. Happy anniversary was
sung to Oscar and Laura Miller. The
card secretary sent out one get well,
one thinking of you and one sympathy
card.
Sheldon Wein will be playing
snooker at Dorchester and he and
Mrs. Aldene Wolfe will also play
crokinole.
Bingo was played with winners:
Nellie Weigand, Mrs. Maggie Clark,
Mrs. Frieda Keller, Mrs. Edith
Baker, Mrs. Lloyd Rader, Oscar
Pfaff, Mrs. Eben Weigand, Mrs. Elda
Koehler, Cliff Russel and Everett
Haist.
The September meeting will be the
15 with Mrs. Aldene Wolfe's group in
charge.
Rader Reunion
The Rader reunion was held Sun-
day afternoon June 22 with Ray
Rader's family in charge of sports.
Winners were 6 and under, Stephanie
Rader; 7-10, Scott Weiberg; 10 and
over, Floyd Rader; 15 to 25, Larry
Rader; three-legged race, Larry
Rader, Laura Benati and David
Rader; shoe scramble, Helen Miller;
watgr balloon toss, Barb and John
Vel a; balloon breaking, Stephanie
Kader; candy scramble; several
relay races and tug of war were
enjoyed.
At the supper time president Paul
Rader welcomed all and a minute of
silence was held for those who were
gone. A candy -guessing contest was
ion by Kathy Turner; contents of a
package was won by Sheila Miller;
coming farthest, Idella Shulze and her
daughter One; nearest birthday, Col-
in McGrtegor; oldest 'adult, Idella
Shulze; youngest child, Christopher
Hayter.
The reunion will be held in
Dashwood in June, 1988, with Dave
Rader president, Susan Rader,
treasurer, Audrey Rader secretary,
Kathy Turner table convener and the
Floyd Rader family sports.
A meeting will be held Thursday
Correction
The trophy for Reserve Champion
at the Hensall Spring Fair was
presented to Michael Hayter by Roy
Pepper on behalf of the Exeter Co -Op.
We apologize for incorrectly identify-
ing the donor.
evening at 7 p.m. at ARC Industries
June 26 regarding senior citizens
apartments. All interested persons
please plan to attend.
There are still Dashwood History
books available at Boyle's store.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Restemayer
returned home Sunday from In-
verlocky from a week of fishing. The
weather was good and the fishing
also.
Personals
Mrs. Oluf Pedersen has been
transferred from Barrie hospital to
South Huron hospital.
Mrs. Gene Price and Kevin of Fair-
fax, Virginia and Mrs. Arthur Koessel
of Lansing, Michigan were visitors
with Clayton Pfile and also with Mrs.
Tillie Pfile at Queensway.
thorough job of repairing the bad
spots from last year's tarring and
chipping on the second concession. -
Township employees will do the
repair work themselves on the deck
of the little wooden bridge in the
swamp.
After a discussion about work on
the Forcier drain, councillors decid-
ed to carry on with their original plan
to dump in about 10 loads of fieldstone
at the outlet end for gully erosion con-
trol, rather than implement ABCA
recommendations for more expensive
quarry stone and the addition of a
filter mat, which would quadruple the
cost.
Councillor Gerald Shantz remark-
ed that the Authority made the flow
sound like Niagara Falls, adding "we
should put in a generator."
Diechert added that until ABCA is
willing to share the additional costs,
Hay will go with its original plan.
Livestock evaluator Jack
Schroeder's remuneration was set at
$14.70 per inspection plus the regular
mileage rate of 25t per kilometre, the
same fee as paid to the tile drainage
inspector.
Shantz and Councillor Don Weigand
will represent Hay at a joint meeting
of Hay, Stanley, Usborne, Hibbert,
Hensall and Tuckersmith called by
the latter to try and reach a consen-
sus regarding requests for assistance
by minor sports organizations using
the Hensall arena.
ate.
BEST FIDDLER — Willis Desjardine, Dashwood, took first place in the
intermediate class at the Fiddlers Contest in Hensall last weekend.
He was presented with the Hensall Parks Board trophy bycontest
organizer Wayne Reif -
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