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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-08-06, Page 16PAGE 2A —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1986 Robert Bockstael and I'auluna Gillis perform in the Blyth Festivals, Lilly, Alta. Wood carvings on display The Huron County Pioneer Museum is pleased to announce that for the first time in four years, an important collection of wood carvings is on public display at the Van Eg- mond House, near Seaforth. The collection wus housed on the second floor of the museum which has been closed to public viewing for the past four years. The carvings by George June depict characters and scenes familiar to'the artist in the 1930's. June was forced to retire early from farming due to ill health and discovered the art of whittling to be a satis- fying way to pass the time. His craft•was self taught. His tools were elementary, with the most important being the jackknife. A large model of a trotting meet makes one want to cheer the highly animated horses and drivers on. The excitment of the event is evident in the detail of the figures in CAN -ANN STEEL FABRICATORS Structural Design and Engineered Assembiy •Build anything out of steel •Long & short span open web joists • Floor grating • made to order PORTABLE YiC TIM PISKORSKI I 524-9067 Entertainment the grandstands. Several other models portray logging scenes: There is a bus station and buggies, coaches and wagons are pulled by Belgiums,.Shire and Morgans. The harness for these carvings is meticulously detailed to a particular style. The buckles were specially cast at a Whitby plant. Perhaps his masterpiece is a table inlaid with quarter inch squares, some 52,600 to form an almost oriental design of dragons and figure's. June's work entailed the need for great accuracy and there is, manifested, fine skill and originality of thought. This collection is bound to gain acclaim as it becomes known. The display titled "Whittling Time Away" will be at the Van Egmond House throughout August and September. A last chance to see it will be during Ciderfest, September 28th. `Lilly' effectively shows small town life BY MIKE FERGUSON Liliy, Alta., the play. currently in its run at the Blyth Festival until August 21, makes ef- fective and spectacular use of sets and top- notch acting to put small, town life on display. The dreams of the residents are transported by a train arriving every Tues- day in Lilly. The whole town revolves around its arrival. The play begins with a crippled old man, Willy Tyler (played by Robert Bockstael), sitting in an ancient chair to tell the town's stogy. Bockstael performs Willy the librarian in a rather reserved style, perhaps fitting to the whirlwind of events around him. Going back in time, Willy explains the history of Lilly, including the town's feared and revered matriarch, Mrs. Lilly, played in an effectively threatening way by Margaret Barton. Director Richard Rose makes excellent use of one ofthe biggest casts Blyth has ever put on stage. Rather than being lost in the shuffle, each character is singularly memorable, from Mrs. Chas. Halpern (Heather Edson), the hypochondriac wife of the local pharmacist, toDrunk Dick ( Robert King) and his witty mumblings. In addition, THEATRE REVIEW the three old men provide some of the big- gest laughs of the evening with their actions in a windstorm. Kevin Bundy's wickedly appealing por- trayal of Dim Denny, the local pyromaniac, adds to the play's enjoyment. His often masterful ,stage presence draws the au- dience to his side of the stage, to witness the match- striking. The love interest of the play is performed dynamically by Pauling Gillis, perhaps the real star of the show. Her believable and earnest portrayal of Calla, the wife -to -be of Willy the librarian, is one of the most pleas- ing aspects of Lilly. The underlying premise of Lilly shows small town dreams of something better in conflict with the hard realities. Willy and Calla both agree to take the next train to Calgary, where there will be a good life without the 'stultifying boredom and pressures of a small town. But somehow, they 'lust never seem to make it. Delink Dick waits every week for his wife to come back on the train, but she never arrives. As Dick's dream is created by the train, so it shall end; the forlorn man can take it no longer and jumps in front of the oncoming train near the end of the play. The sets and scenery are used with an entertaining amount of creativity' and im- agination. From white sheets being shaken to signify a snow storm, to whirling um- brellas for the train, their stark simplicity adds to Lilly's effectiveness. The historical drama, written by Albertan Ken Dyba, always seems to add some comic relief just after a particularly dramatic scene. The audience is psychologically lur- ched from humor and happiness to sadness and dread, seemingly in one fell swoop. Each new addition of a character brings with them a specific vignette on small town life and their individual dreams. • • While Lilly could often have bogged down , in its own largesse, with its relatively fast pace land number of characters, the play is entertaining on the whole. A superior per- - formance by Pauling Gillis rockets Lilly past a merely mediocie.description to that of being entirely effective. � bursting Goderich i�with � eIlLil sial , J'.anla _ALL. • w. 4gir''CTO + • • Welcome to the Port of Goderich! The little sign just beyond the railroad tracks on Highway 8 says so and I like the sound of it. I don't know why we haven't been saying port all along. This is a very important port on Lake Huron and in all the Great Lakes there are not too many that are more important. How does that hit you? For the past two or three years I've been sure to use the proper title when speaking to strangers to this area. Our town is really bursting with en- thusiasm right now. Everyone is making a big effort to smile and speak to strangers - visitors to our town. I'm certainly doing my share. I hope you will too. , The water boys, or girls, are keeping the flower baskets and other floral areas in fine shape. The parks department can surely be proud. Our brick sidewalks also add a lot; people like them andagree they help blend the buildings together. I can't forget the kick I got from a fine old gentleman. He was telling me of the time his father end him had planted that great black tree at the corner of South Street and Britan- nia Road. They had found it in the Saltford area after building the large house that now hides behind the tree. The box who helped We're at your service OUR EVERYDAY SERVICE PRICES RING CLAWS. Sizing up- 4 Claws • first size Each additional size up Sizing Down - regardless of how many sizes • All our service Work done at Anstett Manufacturing Limited by our own certified Goldsmiths Estimates and consultations at no charge. 12. Retipped 24. Each additional 350 claw 5. GOLD CHAIN 6. Solder WATCH BATTERY INSTALLATIONS4. 2 The Square GODERICH 524-4195 • 6. NST ETT JEWELLERS Main Corner CLINTON 482-3901 R NT ---1, 9N ABOUT With Martaha Rathburn o plant it lived to be over 100 wonderful years and told me of their cows he drove to pasture along the Maitland River banks. After a while they would come home by themselves; often taking a short cut through Courthouse Park. Of the tree, a very old teacher, Miss George, told me it would never have nuts. "There's no female around here," she said. She seemed to know. Right now the tree is at its blackest point or close to it. In spring, the leaves are a light yellow -beige color and, in the fall, when the leaves drop, they are the , same light color. Very interesting. Have you been up real early one morning this summer before the birds? You should drive across the river and watch the birds awaken near the bridge. The noise will sur- prise you. Suddenly they take off in swarms CHECK AND COMPARE INS LOANS Ask LOAN JOIN INSURANCE bEt WWhen you loan Coverage Built for Two O/p and circle and circle until everyone is out and then they suddenly disappear and you don't know where. The children would enjoy the sight if you can get them up. It warms you up in more ways than one and really makes your day. Just watching the shadows sneak away and the true colors_ coming is fascinating. You will enjoy it. I know everyone is, having an exciting year with so many anniversaries around us. Now it is Port Albert's turn to celebrate this weekend. Many things are happening from mid morning on. With trying to get people to plan ahead, like the Santa Claus Parade, I've been asked to help judge the Port Albert Parade. That should make me put up or shut up, don't you think? I think we all enjoy these celebrations and they don't happen too often. Just try to enjoy each day as it comes. They are all beautiful,. one way or another. Love Martha P.S. Go and see Ball's Bridge and take some of the back roads in the area. You'll be sur- prised and pleased, I hope, with the little journey. Don't be afraid of getting lost; it's fun. H D. MARINE CONTRACTORS LAKEFRONT EROSION ' CONTROL •Steel Groyne Walls and Pilings SERVING GRAND BEND, BAYFIELD, GODERICH & AREA (519) 565ek2149 How you feel about The Goderich Signal -Star is our business! We care about your opinion! Any Friday Morning from 10 a.m. to 12 noon "OPEN, LINE". or at your convenience Just Call 524-2614 and ask to speak to Shirley J. Keller, the General Manager at The Goderich Signal -Star. Tell her what you think about Goderich's only community newspaper. "We Need Your Best Ideas!" Goderich SIGNAL --STAR * Up to 517,500.00 available * Completely Open for pre -payment * Simple Interest * Life Insured Dungannon Agricultural Society's FfiMILY FUN DOT Sunday; , August 10 If you are looking for a ... New Car Loan, Used Car Loan, Home Renovations Loan, Home Refurnishing Loan, Holiday Loan, Paying-Offg Your -Charge -Card Loan, Bill Consolidation Loan, or any other Good Reason Loan ... Let's get together! We are the "People Helping People" vVith payments to suit your budget and your best 'simple interest' open loan rate ... 12.5%. Check and Compare! 39 ST. DAVID STREET, GODERICH PHONE 524-8366 "Member OFFICE HOURS: Mon. to.Thurs. 9:30 a.m. to 5:95 p.m. TM f rldays DM a.m. to 6:00 p.m. OMerloShersand0epo9lflneurenceCorporetion^ People Helping People Saturday9:30 am - 12 noon 000ERICH COIVMUNITY CREDIT UNION ti fy if •rjfir/x%19 FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 5297432or 529-762Q