Times-Advocate, 1986-07-23, Page 7ELDAVILLE WI DONATE SWEATERS — The Elimville Women's Institute recently donated a set of sweaters
to the Elimville girls softball team. The WI members shown are Shirley Wilkinson, Gwen Coward, presi-
dent Marie Brock and Marjorie Johns. The girls from the left are Kerri-Lynn Case, Erin Richardson, Jodi
Rowe, Jennifer Strang, Tina Glavin and Amee Johns. T -A photo
Playhouse show pokes fun at
fanatics of all varieties
Religious fanatics, sports fanatics,
morals fanatics. and even satanist
fanatics all receive a little gentle fun
poked at them in W.O. Mitchell's
"Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrim-
mon". If you enjoy the down home,
mom's apple pie, victorian rural type
of humour then this production at
Huron Country Playhouse main stage
is a sure .evening of pleasant
entertainment.
The plot of the story is based on the
age-old theme that has had at least
one author try to give the message
some significance in every phase of
history, from Greek Mythology to
Wagner. Like Faust, Wully MacCrim-
mon would sell his soul to the devil if
he could only win the MacDonald
Brier curling bonspiel.
Unlike Wagner, Canadian
playwright Mitchell has thrown aside
the tragic drama of life approach in
favour of a homey, light satirical
mood. The cast of characters are not
in any way great dramatic personae
'but rather a sampling of simply rural
. folk complete with very human
foibles.
That seems to be the only reason for
the play, for auther Mitchell procedes
throughout the script to explain all the
meanings to the audience as if they
were of less than grade three in-
telligence. Once it is explained that
"only silverconfoundsthe devil" and
Wully asks his jeweller friend to make
• him a silver rivet to use in re -soling
the devil's curling boots, we know the
ending before intermission.
Aileen Taylor -Smith as Annie
Brown is totally natural and
believeable as the fanatic "church of
Jesus Christ of Latter -Day Saints"
moralist who wants Shakespeare and
Chaucer removed from the library
because they use coarse language.
She manages to be fussy and prudish
without being strident.
First time actor the Playhouse,
Lewis Gordon brings a standard of ex-
cellence in his portrayal of Wully
MacCrimmon but the supporting cast
did not back _up his work. Poor O.
Cloutie (old Nick, old Scratch, the
Devil, as Mitchell explains to us at
ON BROADWAY — Aggie C.
Elliot pays tribute to Leonard
Bernstein, with o selection of his
well-known works in Bernstein
on Broadway, running at Huron
Country Playhouse/Playhouse I1
until July 26, matinees at 2:30
p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
A musical evening, it is an artistic
collaboration between Ms. Elliot,
Scott A. Hurst, Director and
Michael Mulrooney, Musical
Director.
SWEET
CORN
Peaches and Cream
Approx. July 26th
Jeff O'Brien
11/2 miles west of Crediton'•
234-6281
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.a
least twice, in case we didn't get it),
played by David Clark, seems to be
preoccupied with the lightning -flash
props and a tail that is used as a
cigarette lighter. James Haworth as
Reverend Pringle appears uninspired
and gawky by comparison.
Pipe -fitting Charlie Brown is
characterized as a slightly crotchety
but feisty oldster in" the stereotyped
style of actor David Francis. Each
character was pigeonholed by writer
Mitchell ' according to his/her
religious beliefs. Perhaps tht
hampers the actor's interpretation!
The best of the humour is in the
stage direction if Steven Schipper. As
each player comes on stage, the en-
trance is accompanied with suitable
corney theme music -- for example, •
Hockey Night in Canada organ music
introduces Rev. Pringle playing
hockey or chimes accompany Clock
Charlie Brown.
Lots of local references provide
laughs and add a personal homey
touch. Until modern science meets
the needs of realism in the ,theatre,
the cotton batten snow, no matter how
artfully draped on the attractive barn
board fence, is still cotton batten.
Otherwise the set by Brian Per-
chaluk, and the lighting effects by
Grant T. Smith are pleasant and
unexceptional, in keeping withthe
script and cast.
After intermission the audience is
treated to a second act that is full of
bizarre antics, hilarious staging and
colourful costumes by YvonneSauriol
on some of the most dramatic
characters from history and
literature. These villains (Guy
Fawkes, Judas Iscariot, and
Macbeth) are the members of O.
Cloutie's curling,team who provide a
lively match for the team from
Trillium. Wully's soil,.and member-
ship on the devil's team are the high
stakes. Just to see veteran
Shakespearean actor Paul Massel do
a parody of himself as Macbeth is
worth the price of admission.
"The Black Bonspeil of Wully Mac-
Crimmon" seems to be another ver-
sion by a plethora of writers that try
to make Canadiana loveable and
laughable. This production that runs
until ,July 26 at Huron Country
Playhouse probably gives as many
funny moments as could be expected.
100 years for
Mary Gower
Mote than 150 relatives, neighbours
and friends gathered at Crediton
United Church Sunday afternoon to
wish Mrs. Mary -Gower a happy 100th
birthday.
Mrs. Gower, now a resident of
Queensway Nursing Home in Hensall
is in good health and enjoyed several
hours of chatting with visitors.
She was born in Stephen township.
Her maiden nam was Mary Pfaff.
She married Isaac Gower on March
2, 1904. They farmed in Biddulph
township, east of Centralia until retir-
ing to King street north in Crediton in
1945. Mr. Gower passed away in 1965.
Mrs Gower has four children. They
are Vera Bullock, Crediton; Louella
Taylor, Exeter; Milton Gower, Huron
Park who is currently in hospital and
Alma Brunzlow,Strathroy The fami-
ly also includes 15 grandchildren, 43
great grandchildren and 13 great
great grandchildrefi.
Sppe�ccial 'birthday greetings were
rere1ved from Ontario Lieutenant
Governor Lincoln Alexander.
representing Queen Elizabeth, On-
tario Premier David Peterson, Prime
Minister Brian Mulroney and Huron
MP Murray Cardiff.
r
r
Tim.s-Advocot., July 23. 1986
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