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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-06-21, Page 16THE IONGHAMADYANCPTIMES WEDNESDAI; JUNE 21,1995 One ofthe lightEmhearted G & S production The Gondoliers a Victorian classic By Ruth Tatham The Gondoliers is perhaps the fluffiest and most light-hearted of the operettas for which Gilbert and Sullivan are so rightly famous. That tradition of mirth is well - continued in this year's Avon Theatre staging of the Victorian classic in Stratford. Susan Benson, as the designer par excellence, has again come up with a feast for the eyes, a sumptuous banquet of col- or and form, aided by some inno- vative direction by veteran Bryan MacDonald. ' The two Venetian gondoliers, brothers, handsome and dashing, open the action with their search for wives from the two dozen eli- gible and eager "contadine" who swarm prettily, if in full airhead fashion, at their heels. Marco and Giussepe are out- spoken republicans, even in choos- ing a wife, and their decisions' are amazingly acceptable to the 22 losers. Enter a boatload of Spaniards (who come from two or three cen- turies back in time, as well as across some open Mediterranean in a sedan -chair affair with oars). These are the genteel but impover- ished Plaza -Toros; a dithery old grandee,his overbearing immense hag -in -silks of a wife, their tiny, pretty 20 -year-old daughter, Casil- da, and their factotum, Luiz...who drums them into Venice, rows their craft, and generally fills the role of servant -to -all. The old duke secretly married his daughter in infancy to the little heir to the fabulously rich island - kingdom of Barataria (which is lo- cated vaguely west of Spain). The king of this little treasure has recently died, and his heir must be found. For political rea sons, the heir was spirited away biy his guardian (the Duke of Plazai Tom, of course) and placed for safekeeping with a nanny in Ven- ice. The nanny just happens to be the missing mother of Luiz, the above-mentioned factotum. The Plaza -Toros have come looking for the heir, ,because, when he is found, their daughter will be an instant queen, and their money troubles will be over. Poor Casilda has been unaware of her pending queen -status, and has been silly enough to fall in love with Luiz on the sly, and he with her. A LOST PRINCE One of the gondolier brothers is the heir...their father is dead (and never bothered to tell them that only one was his own son, and one was a prince in disguise). The old duke decides to incor- porate himself and sell his gran- deur to social -climbers. The Grand Inquisitor, a charmingly lecherous but dramatic figure (also from an- other century, if you want to get historic), appears in Venice to de- mand a king for Barataria. As a temporary solution, the ' two gondoliers and their male 19 s June 18-24 ARIES - March 21/April 20 While good financial news may light- en a heavy burden, it is wise to be cau- tious. Superfluous spending habits will certainly yield disaster for those lacking the capacity to plan. Promised yourself you would never date again? An interesting someone may compel you to revoke that promise! TAURUS - April 21/May 21 Too much to do and not enough time. Such may be the catch phrase in the coming week. Don't carry the entire. load on your own — pass on a heavy burden to someone who is not doing their share. Don't rush to make a decision about a personal affair, as you could have a change of heart. GEMINI - May 22/June 21 Mental quickness characterizes the week ahead. Keep abreast of all issues in the workplace, as this could be a time for advancement. Speak up when you feel the need—you. will be in tip-top form and will know how to express spirited ideas.,Plan vacations well in advance. CANCER - June 22/July 22 Daily rigors decrease in the coming days. So kick back and relax. Or, if you prefer, it's also a good time for socializing. A cash gift or your part- ner's sudden financial success will give you cause to celebrate. A big trip and/or fun in the sun brightens your immediate fditure. LEO - July 23/August 23 Keep in tune with the feelings of someone close to you — a single- minded approach to problems could be alienating: Work-related matters may be a source of confusion. While charisma and work ethic may yield satisfaction, a heavy-handed attitude could be the cause of problems. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Kindling an old flame may become an explosive venture. A wise Virgo will contemplate 'the reasons why a relationship did not work the first time before trying again. Keep your eyes and ears open for an unexpected opportunity. A lucky financial break may be on the way. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Being extra tolerant of those with whom you are associated will prove wise. If you don't, you may find a. quick slip of the tongue will result in long-term regret. A fresh vision, new plan. and a new attitude results in long-term gain for those Libras who are faltering. A loved one will have.a special surprise for you. ES SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Romance will be the highlight of the week.. Single Scorpios will prove irresistible to the opposite sex, while those already in love will find special moments with their significant oth- ers. A good time for communication of any kind. You'll find it easy to express yourself. SAGITTARIUS –Nov 23/Dec 21 Any goals you have set aside should be initiated this week. Whether you want to start a diet, close a business deal or write a novel, this is the week to start. And don't let pessimistic associates sway your ambitious plans. Believe in yourself and you'll succeed. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 If you're involved in business or finance you should find this to be a lucky week. You could be in the right place at the right time. A dispute with a loved one may be inevitable. Be open when you voice your concerns and frustrations. Honesty is the best policy here. AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Although flirting may be fun, it could get you in heaps of trouble. Inappropriate behavior could lead to a soiled reputation. Watch what you say. Don't let yourself get pulled into the middle of an argument between family members. Try to stay neutral if possible. PISCES - Feb 19/March 20 A heated discussion could erupt from what starts as a friendly conversation. Unless you're in the mood for pas- sionate verbatim, dont get involved in conversations on controversial subjects. A project left until the last minute could suffer in quality. Give yourself extra time. YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK The next 12 months: A year of growth and learning. At work, a new responsibility will take up much of your time and through it you will gain a new set of skills. This is especially true for those involved in creative work such as writing or design. A new place to live may be in store sometime later in the year. Perhaps more space is what you need for a happier home life. A friend from your past may reenter your life. This person — probably a Libra or Leo will become an even closer friend than .(s)he was before. A new hobby will hold your interest and take up a good deal of your free time. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY 1 7 2 3 4 5 8 6 9 10 11 13 IIII 12 14 ■ 15 16 T7 18 19 ®20 21 23 ■ ■ ■. ■ 24 ■ CLUES ACROSS 1. Live together 5. Tall steel framework 7. Deviate 8. Fragment 10. Douse 11. Confuse 13. Really 14. Delight 17. Reeling 19. Restaurant 21. Upright 22. Outstanding 23. Overjoyed 24. Fainted CLUES DOWN . Gaunt . Ale 4. Savored . 'Lively 6. Sensational Poverty-stricken . Persist 12. Lately 15. Forsaken 16. Repulsive 18. Sloping sharply 20. Prohibit Solutions on Page 8 1 .4. Kr'''"<''''' p/C iRw':y.'$::.h'�t<•i::s". �'•? •.%d� Lc I If you're not subscribing to Subscription Rates I The Wingham Advance -Times, Canada within 40'miles (65 km) 1 1 you're missing out. Use this coupon $27 plus 1.89 GST I to subscribe today! Name: 1 Address: City: Prov: Postal Code: 1 py Call us 519-357-2320. La WM Ma MO WM WO Ma Ma WM MO Ma Ma aft Outside 40 miles $40 plus 2.80 GST Outside Canada $80 plus 5.60 GST Return to: The Wingham Advance -Times P.O. Box 390 5 Diagonal Rd. Wingham, Ontario i<IOG 2W0 am aa ■a aa man .a ea Oft MU oar r. aa. MA The Gondoliers... Gilbert and Sullivan's produc- tion is playing to full houses already at the Stratford Festival. Eric Donkin, left, plays the Duke of Plaza Toro and Douglas Chamberlain offers up the role of Duchess. friends leave Venice and set up a The Stratford director hired To - totally democratic dual monarchy ronto lyricist and playwright Da- on Barataria. After three months, vid Mayerovitch to update five of their lonely wives and the 22 Ve- the songs in The Gondoliers for netian beauties risk their lives by this production, and he hall,done a sailing off to join the republican quite enjoyable revision. He has, forces in the palace of Barataria. above all, maintained the rhythms Ws time for the Plaza -Toros to and intents of Gilbert, and in ex - turn up again — with news for all. cellent rhyme, has made the pro - Luiz' mother has been found, and duction more comprehensible to is brought, as a feisty prisoner in modern theatre -goers. Certainly, chains, to shout out the verdict: the opening night audience loved "You are all wrong! I substituted the whole show. my own son for the prince, and This, however, raises the prob- brought up the prince as Luiz, my lei of a non-discriminatory audi- son!" ence. The opening night crowd And, in those merry, instant was thoroughly enthusiastic from turn-arounds which Gilbert uses to opening scenes, and the early parts bring an operetta to a quick close, of the show, with the exception of the gondoliers find they can stay the superb Zanies and the sets, was happily married to their pretty not that good. It took a long time maidens and can pole their gondo- to gather up steam; almost half the las blissfully around Venice forev- first act. Linda and Ron Henhoeffer, as er. Casilda will be queen with her Admittedly, The Gondoliers it- well as Charlene and Terry, attend - Luiz as king; the Plaza -Toros will self is a little slow off the mark in ed Jaret's graduation ceremonies be rich; .and the Grand Inquisitor most stagings: the use of the danc- at Wilfrid Laurier University in may turn his lecherously exalted ing mimes in the prelude and inter- Waterloo on May 26. Jaret re- eyes upon Luiz' mother (who is, ,ludes (not a brand-new technique) ceived his Honours Bachelor of after all, the mother of a king). is a big plus. But only their pies- Business Administration degree. The Victorian lyrics of Gilbert, ence and the tnily lovely voices of He received recognition for gradu- beloved by hundreds of thousands the soloists held the early scenes ating on the Dean's' Honor Roll over the years, are out-of-date and together until the big stuff started. and also was presented with the obscure 'in places, mostly in the The Gondoliers requires two Alumni Gold Medal in Business "patter" songs sung by the Plaza- really good tenors, plus (if you can for achieving the highest average Toros. Ever since the unbreakable find another) a vocally talented in his graduating class. monopoly of impressario Richard third for Luiz. Craig Ashton (origi- Jaret has accepted a position as D'Oyly Carte and family fmished nally from Fergus) and Curtis Sul- an associate with the Toronto of - its 99 -year hold on Gilbert's exact livan are wonderful to listen to, • free of the Boston Consulting words, there has been a plethora of and Robert Yeretch holds up Luiz' Group and will start in September. parodies, substitutions and expan- vocals well. His proud grandmother is Helen sions. The Gondoliers is enhanced if Henhoeffer of Walkerton. • Huron County dairy producers meetin Twilight meeting symbol of working together AUBURN – One may be big and one small, one compact and the other tall, but Huron County's milk, producers have decided to ignore the differences between Holsteins and Jerseys and work together as "dairy" farmers. For years the county's annual Twilight meeting was hosted by the Huron Holstein Club. The event was commonly called .the Holstein Twilight meeting and was designed as a social event for these dairy- men. Then about five years ago, Ontario Dairy Herd Improvement (CHI) asked if they could use this forum to hand out production awards to farmers on test, ex- plained Corrie Bos, secretary of the Holstein club. "When we agreed do that, all the breeds were automatically invit- ed," she said. Wanting to play a larger role in what was developing into a social event for dairy farmers as a whole, rather than just Holstein breeders, the Huron -Perth Jersey Club offered to organize the event for a change. Bos thinks the inclusion of other breeds into what was once an ex - you can find a couple of pretty and vivacious sopranos, one lyric, one mezzo. Aggie Cekuta Elliot and Allison Grant fill these roles de- lightfully. And the third soprano, as the Spanish Casilda Plaza -Toro, is a bonus if she has a voice as fine as that of Glynis Ramey. The dancing and its choreogra- phy are top-notch, thanks again to Brian MacDonald and his cast. Eric Donkin is his usual audi- ence -charming, patter -singer as the Duke of Plaza -Toro. He never has sung on pitch, and frankly, nei- ther have a lot of men who' ve trod the boards of other Gilbert and Sullivan productions: the audience expects a mobile face, clear dic- tion and a rather stereotyped form of acting and dancing from these unbelievable fellows, and the audi- ence got it in this production, and loved it. The weakest link in casting is Douglas Chamberlain as the Duch- ess of Plaza -Toro. Of course, she has to be a huge haridan, decked out in a fright wig (for this show,. with some type of sailing vessel askew iri her coiff): But she (or he - she) should grasp the audience, should be an .unreal -real some- thing. ]Unfortunately, this duchess just fills up space without adding \;., to its contents. The duchess is not given a meaty role, but she has her place, and it is a vacuum here. Poor little Casilda is mocked ex- cessively by the ghastly little cork- screwed whitish wig she has been assigned. ;What did she ever do to deserve that? Laugh at the Plaza- Toro adults all you like, but have a warm heart for their beleaguered offspring. The Gondoliers will pull in the crowds, and it should. But there are a few possible. improvements which should be made early in the season. Meanwhile, don't overlook the fun of arriving early at The Avon and trotting upstairs for a relaxed coffee (or whatever) in Me charm- ingly arranged lounge — what a great way to use bulky leftover stage props. Resident wins WLU gold medal elusively Holstein event is a good having a judging class made up of idea. "There are fewer and fewer the finest cattle the club can offer," dairy farmers all the time and I said Janet. Volunteer 4-H members think we should stick together," she will lead the Jerseys around a said. makeshift ring and an experienced Accordingly; the Huron-Perth Jersey breeder will be the final Jersey Club accepted the challenge judge. Judging Jerseys will be a of hosting an organizing the meet- new experience for many Holstein ing this year. farmers believes Holstein club ores - In recognition of the meeting's ident Andrew McBride. "Some of focus on dairying rather than these people have never seen a Jer- breeds, the event has been renamed sey up close." That's why he thinks the "Huron Gounty Dairy Twilight it is great that the two breeds are Meeting". This year it will be held working together. "As the industry on Friday, July 14 at Jubilee Farm shrinks, its important that we all owned by Henry and Janet Boot on work together to try and learn from Highway 8, halfway between Clin- each other." ton and Seafortlookinli. Along with the judging, there Janet is g forward to host- will be the usual beef buffet which ing the gathering and letting dairy is a highlight of the social event. As farmers see what's up in this dairy well, the Jersey club is planning a sector. "There is a lot of exciting variety of activities to sharpen the things happening in the Jersey farmer's minds and keep them breed and that is evident in Huron amused. There will be displays County where in 1993, four of the from dairy -related businesses, mu - top five producing herds were ler- sical entertainment frnnr Sow & sey herds." Cow of Mitchell and a contest for For more information about the At past meeting% farmers got the farmers to guess the total lifetime Dairy Twilight meeting, call Henry chance to see and judge top Hol- yield of a mature cow. McBride and Janet Boot at 233-5454. To steins. But this year, they will be said the results are always interest- purchase tickets, call Lisa Boon - able to judge Jerseys. "We'll be ing. "You'll have some saying stoppel-Pot at 526-7408. 40,000 and others 12,000 – it's amazing the variety you get from these so-called experts:" The Holstein club will be offer- ing its popular calf draw again this year. For $20 farmers have the chance to win a January -born calf from Dupasquier Holsteins near Guelph. Two hundred. tickets • are sold for the raffle and half of the earnings (about $1,000) are donat- ed to local 4-H clubs. As well, the Hallrice 4-H Club will be operating a dunk tank to raise funds for their club. Near the end of the evening, DM will be handing out production awards to the county's top farmers. Next year, the Holstein club will likely host the meeting again since Holstein breeders comprise the ma- jority of dairy producers. within the county. In another four years, the responsibility may fallagain the the Jersey club.