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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-08-03, Page 191.4 • Deborah Cooper ` b Michelle Buurs Local girls work at Blyth Festival Deborah Cooper, the daughter of Donald and Ilene Cooper of Clinton, is working this summer as an administrative assistant with the Blyth Summer Festival. • The position exposes her to almost every aspect of the Theatre's administrative operation, from financial and clerical work to in- volvement in publicity and group sales. The job is part of the Ontario Career Action Program, and provides practical work experience in the chosen occupation of the participant. Debbie completed a business course at Central Huron Secondary School, and during her time at CHSS, Debbie became actively involved in another aspect of, the theatre; she has ap- peared onstage in several of the high school's musical productions. At the completion of the summer season, Debbie hopes to find permanent employment in a secretarial position in London, Ontario. Michelle Buurs, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Buurs of ` RR 1, Londesboro is working as a wardrobe assistant at the Blyth Summer Festival under the auspices of the Ontario Career Action Program, Michelle graduated from Central Huron Secondary School in June of 77. She is helping with the construction of period and modern costumes for the festival's season, work that she says is very interesting, But she does complain that "the thread is the pits". Michelle hopes to become a hairdresser in the future. She enjoys cooking and sewing, and looking after small children. Oklahoma, selling out fast The tremendous ad- vance booking at Huron Country Playhouse for its upcoming production of Rodgers and Ham- merstein's Oklahoma! (outpacing even last week's record' -breaking advance booking for Bedroom, Parlour and Bath) indicates that this classic of the musical theatre is not the least worn by time or ex- posure. In fact, exposure seemsonly to feed this musical -comedy's appeal to generation on generation since its sensational ,opening on Broadway on March 31, 1943. The Playhouse will run this 35 -year-old stalwart for two, obviously big, weeks from Tuesday August 1 to Saturday, .August 12 including the Civic Holiday Monday evening, August 7. Evening performances start at 8:30 promptly. The two Wednesday and August 12 matinees are completely sold out already with evening performances almost reaching that position. Artistic Director James Murphy directs this warm, melodic theatrical treat, while Peter Purvis and Gregory Peterson tackle the musical direction and choreography .respec- tively. Londoners Don Fleckser appears as Andrew Carnes, Allison Grant (who appeared in many of Mr. Fleckser's own shows in London) is in the chorus as is Diane Swallowell who has worked on and backstage at Theatre London, and David Boothroyd, studying at the UWO Music Faculty, is Oklahoma's pianist. Ross Douglas and Lynda Langford are Curly and Laurey, im- mortalized on film by Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones. Paul Cooper is the villain Jud, Marilyn Boyle plays Aunt' Eller and Brenda Bradley appears as Ado Annie. Oklahoma! has been done on Broadway at least four times, in hundreds of theatres around the world and as a movie in 1955 which in- troduced the Todd -AO screening process. It, inspired the creation of the original cast recor- ding, the songs of which have embedded them- selves into the eternal hall of fame: "Oh, What bBeautiful Morning", "The Surrey With the Fringe On Top", "People Will Say We're In Love", the rousing title song, and many more, each stamping a special meaning for many people over the years. The smash hit almost was not, however. Under the title of "Away We Go", the show opened a pre -Broadway tryout in New Haven in early March 1943. The critical reception was mild, due to the ten rather revolutionary aspects of the show, the unheard of AUGUST 7 -AUGUST 12 is "Country Week" at the Candlelight Featuring: Tim, Daniels RECORDING ARTIST AND STAR OF CBC-TV'S "COMING UP COUNTRY" Come and hear the singing voice behind many of the commercials you have heard 45. 'r on radio and TV. ,Candlelight Restaurant & Tavern Licensed under L.C.B.O. HAYFIELD RD., GODERICH 524-7711 inclusion of Jud, a real villanous character, and the equally unheard of exclusion of glamorous chorines and society characters. The financially strained Theatre Guild, the producers, frantically sought extra capital. The few hardy backers eventually found reaped profits which have become legendary. In Boston, vital changes were made to the script, the title was changed - including the use of the exclamation mark. - and the show rolled onto Broadway, staying for its history -making five-year rune starring Alfred Drake and Joan Roberts. What is the magic of Oklahoma!? Firstly, its fabulous score with ageless tuneful music by Richard Rodgers and meaningful lyrics by Oscar Hammerstin II, The musical comedy - cum -folk operetta is also a fairytale of sorts. It is based on the 1932 play, "Green Grow The Lilacs" written by `Okie' - born Lynn Riggs of his childhood memories. It relates in a cheerful, yet believable fashion, a view of the Southwest during times of great change when the old `Indian Territory' was to join the union of American States and be renamed Oklahoma. It also was a time when farming was displacing ranching. Oklahoma! brought its two brilliant writers together for the first time, after each already had gained fame and fortune in collaboration with other well-known partners. They had been Columbia University students since 1919, writing songs separately for the university's an- nual Variety show. Rodgers had been partnered with Lorenz Hart, his Columbia classmate, for the past 22 years, before Hart's death in 1940. (Last year's Playhouse production of '"Babes In Arms" was the last Rodgers and Hart show.) In 1942, The Theatre Guild brought R & H together to`musicalize its 1932 play, "Green 'Grow The Lilacs" and get it out of financial straits. The enormous success of Oklahoma! took Richard Rodgers into a second glorious phase of his professional life. LAST NIGHT THURS. ONE SHOWING 8:00 P.M. _S-Alt7i-ti RD/1Y�...+ArK6V:7)) .catch itv Some Iahguoge my�b offens STARTS FRIDAY AUG.4-10 FRI. & SAT. TWO SHOWi' ' 7 & 9 SUN. & THURS. ONE SHOWItry 8:00 P.M. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, AUGU,ST3,' Jack's Jottings from Queen's Park As you know, our system of parliament is based upon centuries of tradition, both here in Canada, and at the Mother of Parliaments, Westminster in England. Our parliamentary rules are based upon many ancient privileges and precedents. Over the years, some major changes have been made, which have significantly altered the historical development of our legislative procedures, although these changes have frequently occurred so quietly an,d smoothly that` only students of parliamentary procedure have been aware of what was taking place. 'At the end pf the Fall Session in 1976, the Ontario Legislature adopted some 48 new procedures. These new rules were produced by a Committee of the Legislature, based upon research and study material and the many recommendations of the Ontario Commission on the Legislature. You will probably remember that this Commission was appointed in 1972, in recognition of the fact that it was necessary to enhance the role o'f parliament and the power• of parliamentarians. When these new procedures were adop- ted, it was considered advisable to have, a trial period, probably one full session, at the end of which the Procedural Affairs Committee of the Legislature would review the situation, and either recommend changes or the adoption, as part of Ontario parliamentary tradition, of the new procedures. Last year's Provincial Election interrupted the trial period, and we began all over again when the new Legislature reconvened. At this time, we • are now ap- proximately half way through the'experimental stage, and this is, perhaps, a good op- portunity to review progress. The Provisional Standing Orders at Queen's Park have had a major effect upon the activities of the minority Legislature, and have resulted in some in- teresting recent developments. One of the most in- teresting and exciting changes was in con- nection with Private Members' Bills. Previously by tradition, only the Government was permitted to proceed with legislation and create laws for the Statute Books. When the new procedures were adop- ted, for 'the first time inOntario's history, Private Members from all three parties were given the opportunity to present legislation to be voted upon by the Members of the Legislature. Several significant Private Member's Bills have been introduced. Liberal John Eakins tabled a Bill to encourage the development of Small Business in Ontario. Lorne Maeck (Con- servative) introduced a Bill regarding life sup- port systems and Evelyn Gigantes (NDP) tabled a Bill on Special Education, which also received Second Reading. Liberal Rerho Mancini tabled a Bill proposing that the legal drinking age be raised to 19. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly apparent that the Government has vir- tually no intention of allowing Private Members' Bills to proceed beyond the first step in the legislative process. However, even with the certain knowledge that the Government will not permit Private Members' Bills to become law, it is important that the Members vote upon this type of proposed legislation, Bills such as Bob McKessock's on the Niagara Escarpment, and Stuart Smith's a proposed "Sunset Law." At least, we now have the benefit of the recorded debates and recorded votes by Members on matters' of public in- terest. Another provisional change was the extension of the Question Period to one hour from forty-five minutes, This , extension has,, allowed many more Members to ask questions,of Ministers. It is a positive step towards increasing the ac- countability of Ministers and allowing Members to express local and regional concerns in the Legislature. A rule enabling Mem- bers to examine the Annual Reports of Agencies and Ministries by referring these to a Standing Committee has resulted in increased focus on several im- portant issues. The Government's proposed OHIP premium increase was sent to the Social Development Committee, where Ministry officials were called upon to account for the need to increase premiums by an enor- mous 37.5 percent. When it became apparent that there was considerable doubt as to the need for such a large increase, this percentage was cut in half, Only the new rules made this effective detailed examination of Weins tackles role Not too many actresses starting out to play the role of a "crazy" woman say they enjoy it because "I feel it's close to me," but Karen Weins does. Karen tackles one of the most challenging dramatic roles ever at the Blyth Suri mer Festival when she plays the title role in Gwen- doline, a drama about .an eccentric town woman around the turn of the century. Gwendoline, Karen says, isn't really crazy, though she is a little unbalanced through a traumatic, childhood experience. What makes her "crazy" is that she doesn't conform to how other people think she should behave. "You are what you are in other people's eyes," Karen says. "It we could act without worrying about social pressures, we'd all be Gwen- dolines." Gwendoline, by James Nichol, is set in the mythical Ontario town of Kingforks in 1907 and deals with themes of intollerance, love and jealousy. It provides a challenging role for Karen to play the com- bination of innocence and mystery that surrounds Gwendoline. As a small town girl herself from a strict Mennonite upbringing in Dundern, Saskatchewan, Karen feels she has a special understanding of the character. The play, she says, is about people hiding their true selves from each other, but because Gwendoline doesn't hide, she's judged by the other people of her town. The other characters are so caught up in what other people think, that they can't be themselves. "It's also a play about what love can do to people," Karen says, "and the fact that Gwendoline, being so free and open, could reach out and touch other people and help them." While some people might see the play as an indictment of small town life, Karen, a small-, towner herself, says it's a play about people and could have taken place anywhere, not just in a small town. Small towns are good places to set plays because they are a microcosm of the wider world, bringi.ng all elements of society into sharper focus. For Karen, being back in a small town this summer at Blyth has been a happy experience. When she moved in from Toronto, where she has been living the past few years, the 23 -year-old actress said she could feel like a giant burden had been taken off her shoulders. Just having the clean air, the space, the sky, was an uplifting PICNICS • PARTIES • PATIO FUN Al) prepare for them the EASY WAY with our famous Colonel Sanders' C� For As Few As 15 or As Many As 1500! r 3 pcs. Kentucky Fried Chicken for everyone, Tots of Salads and Buttered Grecian -Style Bread. Plates, serving spoons, bread frays, napkins, table cloth - everything! • Just call our store manager, give us a couple of hours to pack it all for you - then come and get it - Your Party is Ready! Colonel Sanders' boys and g• iris make it finger lickin' good. PARK GODERICH 30 THE.SQUARE PHONE 524 7811 AIRCQNDITIONED Program subject to change 4 Cel. 'Snottily Il 1p • efltuck9 A CANADIAN COMPANY 94 Elgin Ave. Goderich, Ont. experience. Growing up on a farm, she says, nature is a huge part of her life. Acting seems a strapge occupation for a girl from a Mennonite background in a Saskatchewan far- ming community, but it was at a Mennonite boarding school in Rosthern, Sask., that she caught the theatre bug from a teacher the matter possible. ' ' This same technique was also used to conduct an examination of pricing practices by the food chains. The committee recommended to the Government that a public inquiry be conducted into discounting practices. Still to get underway is an examination of safety features at Ontario Hydro's nuclgar plants, a probe which was also established under the new rule. For the most part, the new rules were intended to provide Members of the Legislature of all Parties with easier ac- cess to information on the operation of the Government. It was felt that better government would result from enabling the Members to become better informed. Many of the rule ' changes may be con- sidered of a mere "housekeeping" nature, but these allow Members and staff to be better ' organized and more efficient. Plans for legislation are announced a week in advance. The timetable for the examination of spending estimates is determined through all -party con- sultation and is rigidly adhered to throughout the Session. Also through consultation, committee timetables are. established far in ad- vance, enabling Mem- bers to divide their time between House, Com- mittee and Con- stituency responsibilities. ,White. Carnation, Holmesville; Catering to weddings, banquets, meetings, private parties. Book your party anytime 524-4133 or banquet hall 482-9228 SUNDAY EVENING BUFFET from 5:00 pm. - 7:30 p.m. EVERYONE WELCOME HELD OVER LAST WEEK BOX OFFICE OPEN 8:00 P.M. The greatest stuntman alive: ADU111 REYNOLDS -LAWRENCE CORDON ProductioD DUR1 REYNOLDS is 110011R" Aiso gtarrlog JAN -MICHAEL VINCENT. SAIIY EIELD PLUS "ONE ON ONE" ADDED ATTRACTIONS SUNDAY NIGHT Richard Burton has MedUSa Toucti It's a hilarious outrageous road race. HWY. 8 GODERICH AT CONCESSION RD. 4 • • PHONE 524-9981 WST4VO D!VE'IN TUEATItE f