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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-08-13, Page 7Set to perform in Annie SIn.ple eaihushisni marks buliding stars ly nice and not conceited at all. As the clouds gathered overhead and threatened rain it didn't matter to Jennifer Weigand, the eleven -year- old Dashwood girl who sings in the junoir choir and has been in plays at Stephen Central School. Her favorite part of the whole production is the song "The Sun Will Come Out". "An- nie sings it so nicely", claims Jen- . nifer, "I like the words". All her con- centration was on the best parts of the play, certainly not the weather. "I wouldn't mind being the director -- it would probably be fun" decided ten year old Sara Bradford from Woodham when she was asked if she would like to be in any other part of theatre, such as paint scenery, or be the director or even write a play? Without hesitation she explained "sometimes I think about what I would do if I was doing the directing---". Move over Lawrie Seligman (director of Annie)! This Usborne Central School student who said she loved writing and dreamed of being an actress, has already rais- ed her sights in only two weeks of rehersals. Not one to waste words in an inter- view, Grand Bend Public School grade three aspiring writer and artist --(according to her equally brief biography) Sarah Bannister answered "a dog" when asked who Wiggins was. Wiggins, the Milson family pet that also participates in the The call of Broadway and interna- tional stardom hasn't quite reached as far as Grand Bend and the youngsters who have won a singing and dancing part in the forthcoming Huron Country Playhouse production of "Annie" to open August 12 on the main stage. Interviewing the nine local girls who auditioned their way to the chorus of "Annie" revealed such a simple enthusiasm and honest enjoy- ment of the task at hand that the show is bound to be a winner. Chantelle Crabe, age 12, has an im- pressive musical background and a thorough performance -going knowledge of concerts, musicals, operas, plays, and ballets, yet she has never heard of Andrea McCardle the diminutive singing wonder who stormed the Broadway stage as the first "Annie". None of the others' knew this name either, which just goes to show that it isn't starry-eyed hero worship that draws these young performers to the theatre. This is (•alism and hard work, not a fantasy. Twelve year old Patti Desjardine, also from Grand Bend (as is Chantelle) , has, had two years of sing- ing lessons and if she could, she would love to play the part of Annie, "because she has lots of parts" to play and sing. She is already looking forward to next year when she hopes to be in another musical at the Playhouse. Certainly there is no conceit in Vic- toria Bisback, the eleven -year-old, grade six student from Hensall Public School in fact conceited isn't a word in her vocabulary. "I don't knows what it means" exactly, she admitted when she was asked if being The Sar made you conceited. With refreshing hones- ty, everyone chimed in that they think this `Annie," Theresa Stewart, is real - BREAK TIME — Not having a lot of time between intensive hours of rehearsals doesn't bother this group of enthusiastic young singers and dancers. Relaxing under a shady apple tree for a few minutes, they all expressed excitement about the opening of "Annie" at Huron Country Playhouse in which they all have parts. The orphans, are: front row Sarah Bannister of Grand Bend, Aimee Gelinas of Zurich, Melanie Phillips of Exeter, Victoria Bisback of Hensall, Kelly Hoffman of Dashwood, (back row) Sara Bradford of Woodham, Jennifer Weigand of Dashwood, Patti Desjardine and Chantelle Crabe, both from Grand Bend. Imagine being paid for having fun! xlk Need only sun and beach I have been able to renew my in- terest in one of my favourite activities this summer. I'm not sure whether to call it a sport or a hobby -- actually, I must confess that it's neither. In fact, I've never listed it as a hobby or interest on my resume. But it's my favourite summer time activity -- ly- ing on the beach in the sun. BUSINESS GRAD — Chan and Donna Livingstone are proud to announce the graduation of their daughter Kelly from Westervelt Business College. Kelly has ac- cepted a full time position with Air Ontario, London. I can't call it suntanning, because I'm one of those very white people who turn pink in the sun, then fades back to white over night. No one ever believes I have a tan, unless I show them my tan line. No, I don't whip up ly co-operative this summer. I'm still able to find some of my favourite beach at Ipperwash, although much of it is under Lake Huron's waters. The other necessary ingredient in the pursuit of this hobby, as with any my skirts, or pull my blouse off my activity, is time. In my younger years shoulder; I just take off my ring. Then there seemed to be plenty of time for Mary's Musings it is obvious that although I am a long way from golden brown, I am not as pale as I used to be. Of course, the medical world is warning us about the hazards of too much sun. I have been taking heed, never fear. I now use sun screen lo- tions, and limit my hours on the beach -- unfortunately, that's something I didn't do as a teenager. As usual, something we enjoy can be dangerous and hazardous to our health. Lying on the beach is a hobby that is fairly easy to pursue. You don't need expensive clubs, as you do in golf. It's not as exhausting as aerobics, nor as frustrating as sew- ing. And it certainly is relaxing. All that is required for this hobby is sun and beach. Reading material is optional, as are lawn chairs and blankets. So far, the sun has been fair - Eyebrows Lash & Brow Tints • Tanning Manicures Make -Up Waxing Ear Piercing 346 Main St., Exeter, Facials Electrolysis Solar Nails 235-0421 PERRY ORIGINALS ')A95 EACH For a preliminary run of Fall co- ordinates with our well- recognized. high quality construction. - We are forced to offer this tremendous value because of unperceived fabric deficiency. ONLY AVAILABLE WED. — FRI. By Mary Alderson beaching. Then it became less en- joyable because I felt guilty about not doing other things while I was lying in the sun. But this year I've taken it up again with no guilty conscience at all. Last summer we didn't spend much time at the beach. I had a six month old daugther. Do you know what six month olds do at the beach? They burn, whine, sweat and cry. It spoils the fun. The year before that I didn't go to the beach much because we were working on renovations to our house. Besides, I was pregnant. And the year before that and the year before that, I was travelling on business. But this year, we're going to the beach, every sunny afternoon. My daughter, once my adversary when it came to beaching, is now a very will- ing accomplice. Unlike six month olds, 18 month olds love the beach. Of course, I don't bother taking reading material to the beach any more -- every minute of my time is spent wat- ching Chelsey. First we play in the sand, then we dig holes and fill them with buckets of water. Then, it it's hot, we sit in the shallow water. Finally Chelsey puts on her water wings and we head for the deep water. Then we get back to the sand. Occasionally, Chelsey's Daddy joins us at the beach. But he certain- ly, doesn't share our interest in beaching. I guess it's difficult for a hyperactive workaholic to lie in the sun. Blyth tickets going quickly "Sorry, we have no tickets left for that performance." That's becoming a familiar refrain at the Blyth Festival Box Office these days as tickets are selling quickly. "This is normal for the height of the holiday season" said General Manager, Bren- da Doner. "But people shouldn't get discouraged - we do still have tickets for many performances." Gone to Glory has proved the most popular play to date, with numerous performances sold out even before the play opened! Another Season's Pro- mise has also picked up dramatical- ly (excuse the pun). There are still a few tickets left for Glory on August 18 and 19, and for Promise on August 16 (matinee) ; there are also rush tickets available prior to every performance. Tickets for Drift are available for.the performances on August 14 and 21, and Lilly, Alta., (described by the critics as `spectacular', 'im- aginative', `fun'), has tickets for most performances. The final perforinance dates are August 21 for Lilly, August 22 for Drift, and August 23 for Glory and Promise. Cake -Walk, the return of the hilarious 1984 comedy, opens on August 26. It is sold out for the matinee performance on August 28, but excellent tickets remain for all other performances. Don't miss out op a great evening at the theatre! Call the Box Office today and book your seats - 523-9300 or 523-9225. B.A. GRADUATE -- Mr. and Mrs. Henry Eisenschink of Exeter are very pleased and proud to an- nounce the graduation of their daughter Sheila from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute with a Ba- chelor of Applied Arts Degree in Social Work. Sheila is a former graduate of S.H.D.H.S., Exeter and plans to attend the Universi- ty of Toronto this fall to complete her Master's Degree in Social Work. 33* GREAT fi CLOCKS AT GREAT PRICES startingg �eat .91 405 Main Street EXETER 235-2967 i rehabilitation unit, pet therapy pro- gram at Sarnia Hospital of course plays Sandy, Annie's friendly stray. Do you like Wiggins? "Yah". Is she well behaved? "Yah". Have you got a dog? "Yah". Would you like it tobe your dog in the play instead of Wig- gins? "No". Why? "Because she's not that smart". Wiggins seems to be an O.K. actor but can she sing? The next question was really meant to see if anyone had done some research and homework on the real Annie -- did you know that Little Or- phan Annie was a comic strip a long time ago? Surprisingly, Aimee Gelinas from Zurich had seen the comics "at a friend of mine's house, they had old papers stacked away and we were looking through them, and we saw it then -- that was about two years ago". Twelve year-old Aimee, a student at St. Boniface who loves her piano more than writing, singing or sports has had a rare opportunity to see the original Darling of the Depression but would she understand the sentiments of yesteryear? Would you or I? Today's Annie is probably more fun. Veteran of the Playhouse stage, after appearing in Anne of Green Gables last year, Melanie Phillips- from hillipsfrom Exeter thought it would be great to be adopted by a rich Daddy War - bucks like Annie was. Why? "He's really nice and he's rich and they get along well together" and that's im- portant in a family, she agreed. Preci- sion and figure skating, swim, ballet tap, jazz lessons, choir, live theatre, and sports fill up this nine-year-old's life on top of being a top talent, but it sounds as though she has a secret millionaire somewhere already to pay for all the lessons. "It kind of gets boring because you're doing the same thing over and over again" -- "until you get it right" sighed Kelly Hoffman when asked. what she thought was the worst part about being in the play "But it's fun," she added brightly, so that it didn't sound like a complaint at all. The best part is "Meeting all the people and having a good time". When Kelly returns to grade four in September at Stephen Central School and has her ninth birthday in October she will be a seasoned theatrical performer with many memories and songs in her heart to take back with her. Right now, their enthusiasm car- ries over into desires of wishing to go on to become an actress for each and every one of these local area young girls. For a little while at least their dreams are a reality as they beam their delight from behind the footlights for the next three weeks in "Annie" at Huron Country Playhouse. Peaches & Cream Corn 1 more week only 5 1 Per dozen 11/4 miles west of Crediton Jeff O'Brien 234-6281 August 13, 1986 Page 7 GRADUATES — Chan and Don- na Livingstone are proud to an- nounce the graduation of their daughter Kim from Marvel Beau- ty School. She has accepted a full time position with Sharon's Hair Styles, Exeter. ✓ 1 1 Pielfaelbe" 7144,44 1 1 1 1 1 1 • Bryon Village Centre, London • 383 Main St., Exeter • 1362 Lambton Mall Rd. Sarnia Back to School Perm Special August 13-30 414 Main St., Exeter Centre Mall Now $3000 Reg. 535.00 Including: Shampoo, cut and style. Appointment not always necessary CaII: Janet Krisan, or Sandy UNISEX HAIR DESIGN 235-0202 Free Cooler With each picnic pack purchased Your picnic includes 20 piece barrel of chicken 2 500 ml. salads 2 litres of Pepsi plates pnd forks "Cooler is free" for $1 9.9 aws16.95 I%ntuckyFliedChicken T W IIV S 227 Main Sit N., Exeter