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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-09-01, Page 25Playhouse Wraps up. seaso4 vdth musical BY JOANNE BUCHANAN True to tradition, the Huron Country Playhouse is wrapping up another suc- cessful season with a musical. This 'year's musical is GPOliver!, Lionel Bart's adaptation of the Charles Dickens' classic, Oliver 'Nig, the story of a young orphan boy whose travels take him from a public workhouse to apprenticeship as a coffin follower in the undertaking business to the streets of London as a pick- pocket and finally safe to the arms of his long lost gran- dfather. -While 'enjoyed the music, especially the more familiar songs like Where is Love, Coitaider Yourself, IV Do Anything and Who Will Buy, I found it difficult to hear the words. Either the orchestra was too loud (although good) or the singers' voices not loud enough. Or maybe it THEATRE REVIEW was those thick cockney accents which might have been better left alone. However, for the most part, I enjoyed the show. The choreography by Joy'Lowry, costumes by Pamela Lampkin and set by Mark Cole and Bruce Walker were all very good. And there were some strong per- formances from Tricia Adams as Nancy, Diane Gordon as Mrs. Sowerberry, Allison Grant as Charlotte Sowerberry, John Kozak as Fagin, Dor; Elliott as Bet and ,a lively little Jacki Dykes as one of the workhouse boys and member of Fagin's gang. The John Wood Choristers and St. Michael's Boys Choir are featured in the play as the workhouse boys and Fagin's gang, providing Valiffil.01101041911 youthful chorus voices. Bevan Keating plays the lead role of Oliver and although he has the melancholy looks for the part, again I found it difficult t9 hear him. Rounding out the cast are George Yelland as the portly Mr. Bumble, Peggy Watson as the matronly Mrs. Cor- ney, John Pepper as the morbid Mr. Sowerberry, DaVid MacVoy as the Artful Dodger, Terry Doyle- as the kindly Mr. Brownlow and John Heath and Robert Hall, as the equally despicable Noah Claypole and Bill Sikes, respectively. Oliver will be playing at .the Playhouse in Grand Bend until September 11. There are only a few reserved seats left for the run, so hurry and get your tickets if you want . to see this play. Quiet in the Land restaged BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Due to popular demand, Quiet in the Land has been restaged and extra per- formances added at the Blyth Summer Festival this year. Commissioned and written for the Festival in 1981 by Anne Chislett (better known as Ann Roy, a co-founder of the Festival along with her husband James), the play explores the pacifist Old Order Amish community dungthe time of the First Since last year, parts 'of the play have been rewritten by C,hislett under the direction of Guy Sprung who will later stage it at his Toronto Free Theatre. Some cast metnbers have also been changed. However, the technical excellence has . been left intact, including a revolving set which portrays two different kitchens used by the Brubachers and the Baumans, the two main families in the play. Quiet in the Land offers much. It gives insight into the Amish way of life; probably the most intimate look any outsider will ever get • (Chislett's research included actually living with some of the Amish to become acquainted with their customs, etc). It features love, humor, hurt and pain. There are two 4nderlying conflicts; one between father and son and the other bet- ween church members and their bishop. Keith Thomas is again admirable as Jake (Yock), the son who runs off to war in rebellion against his father and his church's belieVes. David Fox is back too as Yock's father, Christie Bauman, a proud, stubborn and unforgiving man whom the audience can both hate and sympathize with. Other cast members frOin last year include the ever - popular William Dunlop as Menno Miller (what a switch from the role of Boomer in Country Hearts!) and Beth Amos (artistic director Janet's mother) as Hannah Bauman, a real natural on stage. Ted Johns 'takes • over in this year's production as Joseph (Zepp) Brubacher and does an excellent job. I must admit that I missed Janet .Amos in the role of • Zepp's wife Lydie and Kate nutter in the role of their daughter Kate (Yock's romantic interest) but Clare Coulter and Kari Krupop do a good job in. those roles, respectively. . Rounding out the large cast are Robert Nasmith in the dual role of Bishop Eli Frey and Mr. O'Rourke,; Sandy Crawley in the triple role of Paddy O'Rourke, Levi Miller and the recruiting officer; Denise Kennedy as Martha Brubacher; Susie Walsh as Nancy Brubacher;, Ann Webster as Esther MiLler; and Peter Cook, Rachel Thompson and Deanna Bearss as the children. Quiet in the Land, which opened Tuesday, , August 24, is perhaps one of the most unique plays you will see anywriere in Cimada this year. Chislett, • who is presently writing. a play on the revolt of 1837 for. the Stratford, Festival, has captured the' warmth, spirit and gentleness of the Amish community while at the same time depicting their struggles against the modern way . (machinery, telephones, war, 'etc). Clarity has been ridded to the .play through the direction of Guy Sprung. Quiet in the Land will run until September 15 in- clusively, except Sundays at the Festival. After that it will tour to Waterloo University and will -later be remounted at Toronto Free Theatre and Centaur 'Theatre in Mon- treal. Clare Coulter and Ted Johns play Lydie and Joseph (Zepp) Brubacher in the Blyth Summer Festival production of Quiet -in the Land. This .play explores the Old Order Amish com- munity during the time of World War 1. ( Photo courtesy of the Blyth Summer Festival) In the scene "Boy For Sale", Oliver (Bevan Keating) is sold by Mr. Bumble (George Yelland) and Mrs. Carney (Peggy Watson). The musical Oliver is the final play of this season at the Huron Country Playhouse and will run until September 11. (Photo by Brian Richman) Please practise hieatre etiquette BY JOANNE BUCHANAN Actors work hard to learn their lines and deliver them in a convincing way to the audience. Nothing, • therefore, is more annoying, than having those lines drowned out by people coughing, squirming, talking and arriving late at the theatre.• Having attended plays at both the Blyth Summer Festival and the Huron Country Playhouse all summer for the purpose of writing reviews, ' I have noticed that while local audiences are generally very appreciative, they are also inconsiderate as well. Here then are some lessons in etiquette: 1. If you have a cold, for heaven's sake stay at home. Nothing is worse than having to strain one's ears to hear the lines above someone continually coughing. 2. Leave your kids at home. Unless the play is Specifically written for children, most of them become bored " and start squirmhbfand talking. Tilt is • very distracting for others. • 3. Don't come late. If you do, You should not be allowed in by the ushers. Instead you should be made to wait until the interni'Ssion (This rule is strictly 'enforced in city theatres). 4. Sometimes it is difficult, but try not to shuffle your feet, rattle your program or talk to your neighbour while the actors are talking. In other words, don't make any iumeccessary distracting .noises. Playheld over The Blyth Summer Festival announces that Quiet th the Land will hold over to play September 13,14 and 15 at 8:30 p.m. in ad- dition to the three weeks, August 24 to September 11 inclusive. "This is the culmination of a terrific season," exclaims Janet Amos, the Festival's artistic director. "In July we announced attendance of over 80 per cent but after La Sagouine and Country Hearts we have played to total paid audiences of over 85 per cent. The theatre has 491 seats. Down North played to 85 per cent houses while Heads You Lose brought in an astounding 93 per cent of capacity. "La Sagouine (The Scrubwoman) brought in a new audience. It was loved by our local audience but brought many new faces to the theatre, many Quebec licence plates,"confirms Amos. "Country Hearts simply sold out every show— again, terrific." Besides its lengthy run in Blyth, Quiet in the Land will tour to the Humanities Auditorium of the University of Waterloo, September 21 to 25 and will be remounted at Toronto Free Theatre and Centaur Theatre in Montreal this fall. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 523-9300 or 523-9225. The first week of Quiet is sold out but rush tickets are available. Take us back to college with you this fall COederich SIGNAL STAR Any student away at college wants to know the news from home. And there's no better way to get It, th©n with a regular subscription to the paper. That's why we offer special rates to college students for $ months (the school year). THAT'S $2.55 OFF OUR REG LAR RATES. •Special Student Subscription 4D 75 /10 011110 010 CED Ole CM 119 VD MI 01 Mtn Of OD ===== tea toa cm 10 0M 01 /0 0 0 0.001ERICH SM -ST P117A P.O. BOX 220 PHONE 524-11331 GODERICN, ONT. Student Name Address Starting Date 013 el 0P E0 dB 00 SO 10 01 M GODERICH =MAUR, WED NES1:14Y,SErribilinS 1, 12—PAGE�* Want a safer Plan to attend our Practical Accident Control Techniques Seminar SEPTEMBER 15, FESTIVAL MOTOR INN. STRATFORD sponsored by PERTH -HURON SECTION, WESTERN ONTARIO DIVISION INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT PREVENTION ASSOCIATION For further information on this and other events please contact Mrs. Stella Bannister (519) 473-9450 The I.A.RA. can help. 52 THE SQUARE, GODERICH MAIN CORNER, CLINTON MAIN CORNER, SEAFORTH