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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-09-02, Page 200 Living inPhilippines a beautiful experience BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Canadian snow storms are nothing compared to the typhoons of the Philip- pines, says 18 -year-old Laura Raithby of R.R. 2 Goderich. While living in the Philippines as a Rotary exchange student for the past year, Laura experienced at least 10 serious typhoons and numerous not -so -serious ones. Although she was scared, she always felt safe by staying indoors. "They (the typhoons) are almost like tornados. Most of the damage is caused by rain which causes flooding," she explains matter-of-factly. There was also a small earthquake in the Philippines while Laura lived there but she slept right through it. Typhoons and earthquakes aside however, Laura says living in the Philippines is a beautiful experience. - "The Filipino people are noted for their hospitality. They are so grateful for your presence. And the scenery is just beautiful. It's way better than Hawaii where I stopped on the way over," she explains. Even though the Philippines is classed as a Third World country, Laura says it is not the least bit backwards. If you have the money, you can buy any American product you want and American shows are. splashed all over television. There is not a lot of agricultural machinery but Laura says this is because it would put too many Maribel Padilla of Venezuela (left) is staying in Canada for a year on the Rotary student. exchange program. She is presently living with the Raithby family at R.R. 2 Goderich. Laura Raithby just returned in June from a year as an exchang-e student in the Philippines. ( Photo by Joanne Buchanan) - lir THEATRE REVIEW Ted Johns' Aylmer Clark more relevent in 1981 BY JOANNE BUCHANAN In light,of the many recent bankruptcies and economic woes of Canadian farmers, He Won't Come in from the Barn, Blyth Summer -Festival's final offering this season, is even more relevant than when it was first staged at Blyth in 1977. The play's script was written by Ted Johns using, the original' scenario, as a model since all traces' of the 1977 script have disappeared. Johns also plays the lead role of Aylmer Clark, a disgruntled and disillushioned farmer whose decision to stay in his barn turns into a well- publicized protest on behalf of all disgruntled and.disillushioned farmers. Aylmer's wife Rose is played by Janet Amos, .Johns' wife in real life and artistic director of the Blyth Festival: She is superb, as a simple farm wife in color -co- ordinated clothes who takes meals on a tray to her husband in the barn. William Dunlop, by now a very familiar face at Blyth, shows his versatility by taking on three roles in the play. These roles include Anton, Aylmer's Dutch neighbouring farmer; a fast talking farm organizer; and Dr. Radford Wilkins, a feisty old medical doctor. Other roles are taken by Alan Bridle as a government veterinarian; Keith Thomas as Wayne Clark, Aylmer's agricultural college graduate son; and Thomas Hauff as Ralph Clark, Aylmer's nephew and assistant bank manager complete with matching white shoes and belt. As the central character in the play, .Johns really hits the nail on the head when it comes to farming issues. He lashes out at everything from our strike -prone post office and our 'friendly' banks to our un - caring, indifferent government and Ontario's agricultural minister Lorne Henderson. He feigns simplicity but speaks the bitter truth and the audience at; Blyth loves it. They give the play a stan- ding ovation for its understanding of a rural community nearing crisis. The dilapidated barn set by Bob Pearson is completely authentic right down to its discolored water trough. And the two cows ' in the play add just the right touch (not to mention the pigs who add just the right noise) . Costumes by Kerry Hackett are perfect. In his ripped, sloppy barn clothes, Johns looks his part without even speaking. He Won't Come in from the Barn, which was sold out before last Tuesdaynight's opening; has been booked for another week, from September 8-12 at 8:30 p.m. with an added performance on September 5 at p.m. Non -rural folks should especially make an effort to see this play. 'The rantings and ravings of Ted Johns should not fall on deaf ears. The rural people which make up a large portion of Blyth's audience, already know the situation but let's hope the 'agricultural comedy for cynical times' makes some impact on other„a too. Farmers don't .have the 'privilege' of going on strike like post office workers, but they are slowly being driven out of business and off the laid:: Let's face it. We can survive without mail but we can't survive without food. Farming is the most basic and essential industry in this country. So why isn't it treated that way? This is the underlying theme of He Won't Come in from the Barn. Music Man gets ovation from Playhouse audience BY JASON AINSLIE A strong performance of The Music Man by the Huron Country Playhouse company brought ,a capacity audience to a standing ovation on opening night last Wednesday. Of particular note in the production was the choreography, by Allan Lund. In the two -and -a -half hours' duration, hundreds of dance routines were executed with fluent precision, strengthened by the addition of some excellent gymnastics. The music, directed by Barbara Young, was a big delight for this audience as well. Interruptions for applause followed many numbers in the musical score which in- cluded old favorites like Severity Six Trombones and a beautiful barbershop rendition of Goodnight Ladies. Intricate vocal feats such as Pickalittle and the opening collage of the travelling salesmen ' on the train held theatregoers in awe of the vast talents assembled on the stage. - The Music Man is set in the American mid -west in 1912. It is the story of a huckster, Harold Hill (Scott Walker); who comes to River City, Iowa, to hustle the villagers for their money under the guise of setting up a children's band. His fast -talking ways fool everyone in the village except the stalwart Miss Marian Paroo (Charlene Shipp), the librarian, local music teacher, people out of work. Carbaos, which are like water buffalos, are used to plow the fields. There is no middle class in the Philip- pines. Fifteen per cent of the population is really rich and the rest of the people are really poor. But although they are poor economically, Laura explains that they have a rich culture and lifestyle. They are a happy, passive people who are never in a hurry and Laura says it took her awhile to get used to the eelaxed, easy pace. The Filipinos are also a more socially= oriented group of people who really enjoy life. They attend the opera, .the ballet, musicals and theatre. Their parties are more formal with everyone, dressing up and big dinners -being served. Laura left for the Philippines on June 30, 1980 and arrived in the capital of Manila 30 hours and four stops later. She lived with six different foster or host families until returning home to Goderich on June 6, 1981, Three of these families were Filipino, one • was American=Chinese; one was Indian and one was Venezuelan. •'I really loved them all," enthuses Laura who can't seem to say enough about their hospitality. Of course all of the families she lived with were rich and Laura was exposed to ma ids, chauffeurs, cooks and laundry persons. Even though it sounds great, it took some getting used to. In Canada we would get acquainted with people we were the derich SIGN 133 YEAR -35 , and spinster, who understands Hill as the phoney he is, yet loves him for the happiness hebrings to the village. Charlie Cowell (Tom Arnott), as the villain, offers a sinister, Dillinger-like performance as he wrestles Harold Hill out of the villagers' hearts. Another character of note is Marcellus Washburn (John Heath), who gives the play some comic relief with his wide-eyed and wheeler-dealer mannerisms. Child and youthful actors make up close to half the numbers of the cast, and these handed iri sensitive performances that complemented the talents of the professional leads. Posed before elaborate sets, designed by Alistair MacRae, the visual effects, costuming and lighting were neither lacking nor blatent in the context of the plot. More importantly, each of the actors appeared at ease in his or, her role, and a strong rapport created between the audience anci,company was' evident when the house applauded in unison to the rhythm of the music after the closing scene. Dancing, music, acting and warm en- tertainment are just four good reasons for not missing Huron Country Playhouse's • fin alai 981 production of The Music Man. staying with by helping them do the dishes," Laura explains. "The rich people really don't need all that help. They could do the work themselves but it is to employ the poor people," she further explains. ' While the poor people live in huts, the rich people live in mansions. One of the mansions where Laura lived was used in the film, Apocalypse Now. There are three official languages in the Philippines. They are Filipino, _ Spanish and English. Because of the many in, ternational corporations located there, the Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world so Laura did .not have any language problems. She took it upon herself to learn the Tagalog dialect though. It is a combination of Spanish, Chinese and Malaysian. • Laura attended three schools during the year. The first, one was an all -girls Catholic school where she took Grade 12 subjects; the second was an interior design school owned by one of the families she lived with; and the third was a special nursing school where she received practical training. She says she was like a Candy Striper but with more authority, Laura found that the food in the Philippines was sweeter and richer. than Canadian food. The native dish served on special occasions is Lechon or roast pig. A lot of shrimp, lobster, pronges (they are like large shrimp), and fish are eaten. The fish is cooked with heads and tails left on. Beef and chicken is also served a lot and rice is a staple everywhere but in the south where corn replaces it. Sugar cane is grown and coconuts are everywhere. Copra, a coconut extract used in sun tan lotions, is exported° by large companies like Procter and Gamble Farming and fishing are the big in- dustries in the Philippines and itis also the third largest lumber producer in the world.. There are two seasons, 'the wet s from.,June to September and the season from October to May. The Philippines is made up of 7,107 islands. If these islands were put together, the country would be about,a third of the size of Ontario but with a population twice that of Canada. Manila, where Laura stayed, has a tiopulation of eight million.There are mountains and many volcanos (few of them are active). While Laura was living in the''Philip- pines, the martial law which had been imposed by President Marcos, was lifted. The rich people do net like Marcos because he taxes them heavily but Laura thinks the government system works well. It is not 'unlike American democracy, she says. Laura says the monetary system was easy to get used to. There is public tran- sportation including buses and jeepneys which are fancy, decorated jeeps first introduced to the country during World Turn to page 2A • L ' . WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2,1981 - STAR SECOND SECTION id on the street: Do you really want to go back to school? Ian Campbell and Jason -Jeffrey say Grade 2 will he "mean". 64 O000h, she's a mean one. You can , 99 hear her screaming all over the school. BY CATH WOODEN After conducting several, Kid On The Street interviews Monday morning, the Goderich Signal -Star has discovered that the average kid likes summer, likes school, doesn't want summer to end, and wants school to start. In short, the average kid can't make up his mind. • Twelve -year-old John Fielding will be a Grade 7 veteren at Robertson next week, and sums it up as, "Pooey!" However, John admits to being a trifle bored with •summer holidays and is looking forward to getting some new shoes. Five-year-old Bradley Rodges, doesn't quite know what to expect from Kin- dergarten at Holmesville, but he's got a fine lunchpail. "I'm not scared," he said boldly. "I want to get started." His sister Tressa, nine, isn't so en- thusiastic. "Nope. I'm not getting bored. I don't want to go back to school. she ex- claimed. But then again she has some new outfits, and got her ears pierced this summer, and likes spelling and reading, and in Grade 4. she gets to take swimming lessons at Vanastra.... , According to another sister. I:isa who is "scnool makes you busy then you aren't bored.",Apparently, Lisa knows the score. Many of the kids' interviewed also had much to offer in the way of teacher horror stories. 1 Namesmwill be withheld to protect the students.) Here is a sampling, "O0000h, she's a mean one. You can hear her screaming all over the school." Ian Campbell and Jason Jeffrey are two seven -year-olds who attend St. Mary's. They feel that Grade 2 is going to be -mean, it'll be hard! But we can handle it." When asked if they were ready to go back to school, they said, "No....well, yeah." It seems they rather enjoy the business of riding around on their bikes all day, but in school, "you get to play games and that." They are also looking forward to visiting with buddies they haven't seen all summer. Eight-year-old Michelle Dunn will be going to Grade'3 at Victoria and disclaims 'any notion of her' wanting to go through those doors next week. "I'd rather play outside instead." Hey. Michelle, wouldn't we all. Wouldn't we all. Those lazy, hazy days of summer will soon he over for Tiessa, Lisa, and Badley Hodges.