HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-08-02, Page 15„1
Y NON SHAW
to have been two
success stories in On -
r recent years,” Huron
ellaYhOuse spokesman
t, !land why shouldn't
I third."
were referring to the
the Stratford
green Theatre and the
Naval' Theatre at
•0n:the4.,a1e.
those highly acclaimed
theatres begail' under
is ideal conditiofls.
d, like the Country
Playhouse, first opened itit a
tent. The key tp these sues8
stories seems to "let started.
offer The public ' professional
theatre and build on that foun-
slatiotC__ . _
Huron 'Country Playhouse,
now in its second year of
operation, has been following
ithat script to the 'letter.'
The 1973 "Festival of Sum-
mer Stock" is being offered in a
circus tent, just as it was in
1972, but the show has grown.
The tent this year is, larger,
seating more 'than 60 ad-
ditional persons, and for. the
first time patrons make use of
theatre seats fixed to a raked
floor. In 1972 seating was com-
prised of only stacking chairs.
Even ' the Playhouse
_organizers admit—that
con-
ditjons are still less than ideal
but .what Huron Country
Playhouse lacks in those areas
it makes up with atmosphere,
hard. work, top productions and
professional acting.
Eventually the Playhouse
will make its home in a conver-
ted barn. The work necessary
to complete that part of the
project will take some time vet
the
coult
bY.law
steps
the plas
1 to stop ,
essmen
the
tied upf;
1 court .
is unJ
would
ssmen
Ter the
tued_afts
tie the
time. -
shoppers'
ize the
gh, would
spring
ET
re orgaMzer James Murphy surveys the Country Playhouse art exhibit presently on
In the gallery, on the upper floor of the old barn. Artists, from the fields of weaving,
log, photography and sketching, from all across Ontario exhibit their work at the
so during its summer operation. (Staff Photo)
69,
9c
19( n,
r..89(
19(
but amazing -progrees ha* boon
made since the theatre's fresh-
man year in 1972.
With the. help of a Local
Initiatives Proyam grant
(L.I.P:) Huron .COunfiir
Playhouse employed 12 carpen-
ters, plumbers and laborers
over five and one half months
earlier this year to complete the
first steps of refurbishing, the
barn.
The L.I.P. grant provided the
Playhouse developers with
$27,300 and the Playhouse -ad-
ded another $2,700 to bring the
total project value to $30,000.
Initially the work crews were
involved in structural work,
replacing rotted- beams with
material salvaged from a
second barn the troupe pur-
chased and dismantled. Walls
deemed to be in poor condition
were replaced, siding and roof
repaired and new flooring in-
stalled in the loft.
With these steps complete, a
lobby, restrooms, dressing
roams, art' exhibit area,
workshops and rehearsal
- facilities were constructed
within the barn using
weathered materials to main-
tain the rough, rural texture of
the building. ,
In addition to work on the
barn itself, part of the L.I.P.
funding .weitt toward
remodeling alormer drive shed
and farm °house located on
Playhouse property. The drive
shed has become office facilities
on its lower floor and on the
second floor it now serves as a
dormitory for the cast and
crew.
The house had its upstairs
convertedinto dormitories
while the lower floor was tur-
ned into a large kitchen and
dining room capable of feeding
the hungry theatre troupe.
Huron Country Playhouse
opened its second eight week
surnmer series with the Broad-
way 'comedy "Under:the Yum
Yum Tree." Then it staged its
second production, "Bus Stop",
drawing rave reviews. The'play
was made famous with a movie
version staring, Marilyn
Munroe.
Then the group produced
t, George Kelly's "The Show Off'
a classic American comedy of
the early 1920's.
The -August schedule features.
"The Fantasticks", "Like
• Father , Like Fun':, "The
Reluctant Debutante",
String and Sealing Wax",and
"The Hand That Cradles the
Rock."
Performances run Wed-
nesday through Sunday at 9:00
p.m. and there are two shows
each Saturday, one at 6:00 p.m.
and one at 9:00 p.m. All seats
are reseived with tickets on
sale at $3.50, $3.00 and $2.50.
This year the Playhouse is
using two new ideas in ticket
sales. .One, a season's book of
passes allows the holder to ex-
change the passes for tickets to
any show or shows. If he wishes
to bring friends,^he already has
their ticket for the best seats in
the house.
- The other innovation is the
offering of "Twofers" for the
6:00 p.m. Saturday matinee.
Two people may enter for the
price of one.
Reservations and tickets may
be obtained by going to the
theatre ticket office at Huron
Country Playhouse, just east of
Grand Bend, or by phoning
(519) 238-8387.
Rehearsals of LA, new play
start on Thursday previous to
its opening with five hours
work. Another five hours, of
rehearsals are held Saturday
contlnuod On page 9 A
Huron Country Playhouse continues to *offer its "Festival of
Summer -Stock" under canvas at its farm just east of Grand
Bend. The barn, which has been_under renovation now for
two years, will ,eventually house the productions but during
the 1973 season Is in service as a lobby, art gallery, snack
bar, workshop and rehearsal facility. The former drive shed
at the right serves as an office and dormitory for the
Playhouse staff and cast. (Staff Photo)
Stage manager for Fantastiks, Greg Rogers, goes over some
last minute details with two of the musical's actresses, Can-
dice O'Connor, left, and Liz Richardson, as the girls put on
their make up for a dress rehearsal. Part of the Local
initiatives Program grant money provided to Huron Country
Playhouse -Went toward better back stage facilities and
drniosing rooms. Staff Photo)
4'
,3
462140 mammy is
.diroore Relate lilies WO St the Iteybeard as pert el the plop
(th44:1,!/4121rInmalSre tar mil pkyi wok* opened last night. Atop the piano Is
ther --.5) 'and beside dreg, are Candice O'Connor (Louisa) and Shawn
Mbar 16,a,
riettleine a in% —"um. Pentastiks represents the first musical staged by Huron
rm.
- rim . goon Photo)
- Asses* wimp Imprevemente et Moran Country Mayhem, during their almond
season are the thedtre faellItles themselves. This year 60 more persons can
be kocommodated in the tent theatre and for the first time theatre type seats