HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-03-21, Page 12•
AN ANGRY HECTOR TREADWELL (Michael Kelly) confronts politician
Thomas Smiley (Mike McManus) and forces him to relent in his quest to turn the
small Village of Elmtree Valley into a freeway In this -scene from "The Shortest
Distance BetvJeen Two Points", The play by Keith Roulston was the first produc-
tion by the Theatre Circle, a newly -formed touring theatre which will be playing
at Blyth, Chatham, Petrolia and Owen Sound this spring. Theatre Circle's next
production will be Peter Colley's "The Vaudevillians", opening at Blyth April 19.
Theatre Circle embarks on
a new venture in local arts
By Henry Hess
With the Blyth Summer
Festival now firmly
established in the hearts and
minds of area theatre -goers,
some of the people who
helped to found that festival
have turned their hands to a
bold, new venture.
With the dual aim of filling
the off-season void in theatre
at Blyth and - making
professional theatre- ac-
cessible to a wider audience,
they have formed The
Theatre Circle, a new
company which will be based
at Blyth but will tour its
productions to tither parts of
Western Ontario.
One of the prime movers
behind the new company is
Keith Roulston, the Blyth
playwright and former
— jeurnalist--who-vvas-inclv
with James and Anne Roy in
the founding of the Summer
Festival back ,in 1975 and
later went,,, ...mapage it
r.
during fo ,af ' its - most
successful years. ' -
He said Theatre Circle is
an outgrowth of the Summer
Festival, but will not be a
clone.. For a start, while it
will produce some Canadian
and first -run plays, it also
plans to branch out with
some American and British
plays. This will give. local •
audiences a• chance to see
popular productions they
otherwise might have
missed.
"I strongly.believe in what
the Summer Festival does,"
Mr. Roulston explained,
"but we're just the opposite
of everybody else. Other
places never get to see a
Canadian play and here we
get to see nothing else."
It also will take its
productions to other centres
which currently lack pro-
fessional theatre. During
its abbreviated first season
this spring, it will take . its
productions of "The Shortest
Distance Between Two
Points" and "The Vaudevil-
lians" to Chatham, Petrolia
and Owen Sound.
Next season a more am-
bitious schedule is planned,
with up to five productions,
and one or two more 'com-
munities added to the circle.
First, however, . The
Theatre Circle must get
through this , season and it
will not be easy, Mr.
Roulston admits. There is
not much money available
for theatre in' Canada,
especially for a^e small, un-
proven company like this.
"When you need the
money most you don't get
it," he ,said. "The first year
everybody gives you best
wishes and hopes you make
it, then they'll consider
giving you something after
that.
"Everybody says we need
more touring theatre, but
there's no money available
until you're established."
The group did get a small
grant this year, but it will
amount to less than $3,500.
The rest of the money it will
have to raise itself.
Being new and unknown
also has made The Theatre
Circle more difficult to sell,
particularly in communities
unfamiliar with the Summer
Festival, he added.
"It's sort of like being a
salesman without samples.
Until you get down there and
show them, it doesn't mean a
lot."
This has made for hard
sluggingtrying to establish a
l.istoWel,
(.619) 291.-3Q40
_--CUARTERRR~ACCOUNT=A.N $--
NOTICE
BICENTENNIAL. MEDAL
The Council of the Town of Wingham is seek-
ing the names of local citizens who, because of
their volunteerism and community service,
could be recommended to the Province of On-
tario as a potential recipient of a Bicentennial
Medal.
Persons wishing to nominate someone
sholold submit that'person's name, address and
reasons for nomination, in writing, to the
Clerk's Office during normal office hours.
TOWN OF WINGHAM
NOTICE TO DOG OWNERS
The. Town of Wingham recently passed By-
law No. 1761 (1984), which authorizes a
single license fee of $20.00 for the life of a
dog.
This fee is non -transferable to any other dog
and is non-refundable in the event of death or
sale, etc., of the dog in question.
All dogs currently in the Town of Wingham or
any dog attaining the age of six (6) months
must be licensed within two months of the
licenses going on sale or, thereafter, one
month of the dog coming under the owner's
control.
Licenses will be available at the Police Station
after June 30, 1984.
Means of identification will be by photograph
and identifying tag which will be completed at
time of license application.
Failure to license within the prescribed time
limits will result in a fine of $50.00.
Robert Wittig,
Police Chief
® McKin.ney's son
. evel orental ih In •
The Metropolitan-'oroMtn
Business Journal, a
magazine devoted to
business in the Toronto area
and official voice of the
Metropolitan Toronto Board
oft i rade, carried an in-
teresting article in •its
December issue. The story
covered the development of
a Toronto rental firm from
an individual business into
what is expected to become a
Canada -wide chain of
equipment rental stores.
Stephenson's Rent -All now
includes 20 stores in the
Toronto complex, but plans
to expand to at least 50
outlets within five years. The
vehicle for the expansion will
probably be on a franchise
basis.
President of the rapidly -
growing firm is Jim
McKinney, son of R. E.
McKinney of Bluevale (and
Florida) who was formerly
mayor of Wingham. , The
magazine article is devoted
chiefly to Jim's strategies in
the marketing field. The
company slogan is "50 in 5",
referring to the ambitious
plan for a 50 -store chain in
five years.
McKinney is an admirer of
the McDonald food chain's
"Big Mac Attack" as a
successful marketing
strategy which relies heavily
on advertising to move its
products.
An interesting feature of
. the article, as far as
Who is this little
guy who's
1 co •ingto
�+ Ingham?
Wingham -people are con-
cerned, is the photograph of
Jim McKinney, who bears a
striking resemblance to his
father.
Jim recently was invited to
speak to the convention of
the American Rental
Association at Dallas, Texas,
where he was presented with
a Friendship Award for
outstanding contribution to
the international equipment
rental industry.
Personal finances
topic for 4=H club
In an effort to help young
people learn about personal
money management, a new
4-H project called Personal
Finance is being offered this
year.
Personal Finance will
focus on the needs of senior
4-H members who will be
moving away from home in
the next few years, or
members already living on
their own.
During its six meetings,
the club will focus on six
different topics, including
finding a place to live,
financial planning, banking,
credit and consumer rights
and responsibilities.
The meetings are designed
toinclude discussion of
related material and ac-
tivities which will reinforce
information -learned. There
will be several chances to
invite community profes-
sionals into meetings to
act as a resource on banking,
rental agrrements and the
use of credit. '
Members must be at least
16 years of age. For further
information on the club
contact Muriel Taylor at
Belgrave, 357-2368; Harry
Winkel or Hans Rasmussen,
Fordwich, 335-3615 or 335-
3270; or Carol Boneschan-
sker, Ethel, 887-870.
Believe it or not . .
Spring is coming!
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Remember Double Coupon Days - March 21 to March 23, 1984.
CANADIAN TIRE
Associate Store
Josephine St. Wingham. 357-3714
•
base in communities like
Chatham and Sarnia, he
said, but people in Owen
Sound knew off the Summer
Festival and welcomed the
new theatre with open arms.
Mr. Roulston said one of
the major reasons for form-
ing The Theatre Circle was
the almost complete lack of
any kind of theatre in this
area during the fall, winter
and spring.. "You go from
having all kinds of choke in
the summer to none in the
winter."
While still with the
Summer Festival, he and
Janet Amos, the festival's
artistic director, had
discussed mounting some
kind of a winter season, but
never solved all the details of
how.to..manage it.
- ---1t -i ict 'ust
what kind of an audience
there is for theatre here
during the winter, par
ttctllar"1y-with' the uncertain.
weather conditions in the
snowbelt, he said. They.
probably will not get the city
people or the cottagers who
attend the Summer Festival,
but by spreading the cost of
productions among a
numberof communities he
hopes to make it go.
He estimated if the theatre
can attract an average of
2,000 people in each com-
munity, compared to 3,000
for the Summer Festival, it
will be self-supporting.
He also ho s to spark a
new inter in touring
theatre coin nies. There is
hardly any touring theatre
left, he noted, with one of the
best-known touring com-
panies, the Theatre Passe
Muraille, now spending most
of its time at home in
Toronto.
The Theatre Circle's first
production, a return ,of Mr.
Roulston's own comedy
"The Shortest Distance"
which premiered 'at the.
Summer Festival in 1977,
opened at Blyth last week.
Following a three -night run,
it left this week for Chatham,
followed by Petrolia and
Owen Sound. The company
will then return to Blyth to
stage'Peter Colley ("I'll Be
Back For You Before Mid-
night") and Heinar Piller's
Musical comedy "The Vau-
devillians" April 19.
Allowing for some
opening -night jitters before a
partly -full, house; the
particularly in the per-
formances of Michael Kelly,
an experienced Vancouver
actor who was outrageously
,funny as Hector Treadwell,
the town drunk and oracle,
and Mike McManus as the
sauve and polished poli-
tician, 'Thomas Smiley.
Staging was excellent,
with an effective jux-
taposition of scenes through
use, of lighting, and the -set
was' both attractive and
functional.
This new theatre group
will bear ,watching, par-
ticularly as it gains con-
fidence in its material and a
feel for its audience. With a
bitof luck it could bring a
whole new dimension to
winter entertainment . in
Western Ontario.
Plans for• April made
by St. Paul's Guild
The Evening Guild of St.
Paul's Anglican Church,
Wingham, held its regular
monthly meeting in the
parish hall. Mrs. Robert
Ritter opened the 'meeting
with prayer and all joined in
singing the hymn, "Blest Be
the Tie That Binds". Mrs. Ed
Lewis read scripture from
John, chapter 15.
Mrs. M. Davis was in
charge of the business in the
absence of the president.
Members were reminded of
the need for nursery
equipment and asked to
donate' good used toys,
books, etc.,- as' "soon as
possible. .
Lists of articles needed for
St. Monica House were given
to the members and they
were asked to bring,
something to the next
meeting if possible so a box
can be prepared for St.
Monica House. Plans •were
finalized for the garage sale
to be held April 7 and it was
decided to cater for a
banquet April 9.
The meeting closed with
Grace and lunch was served
by Mrs. P. Deyell and Mrs. I.
Metcalfe. The remainder of
the evening was spent in
making favors for hospital
trays. The next meeting date
is changed to Tuesday, April
3, and will be a work meeting
to prepare for the garage
sale.
Senior citizens
hear travel talk
GORRIE — The local
senior citizens had as their
guest speaker . Bruce
McIntosh of Hanover who
showed pictures of Canada
from coast to coast, in-
dicating various tours which
can be taken with his travel
service and also day trips
which are available. Mr.
McIntosh was introduced by
Mrs. Alvin Mundell and
thanked by Mrs. Glad
Edgar.
The meeting was held in
the hall at noon and began
with a pot luck dinner. The
tables were gay with St.
Patrick's decorations and all
enjoyed the friendly
fellowship.
President Harold Robin-
son conducted a brief busi-
ness meeting. Zone 33 execu-
tive will meet in Harriston on
April 2 to arrange the zone
rally. The club will hold its
regular euchre and games
night on March 27.
A short program was
given, consisting -of Irish
songs by pianist Mrs. Hogg,
a medley of Irish tunes by
Alvin Mundell and Mel
Dennis on mouth organs and
a humorous reading by Mrs.
George Brown.
Arrangements for the
meeting were in charge of
Mrs. Nellie Taylor and Mrs.
William Smith. The April
meeting will also begin at
noon with a smorgasbord.
The-Wjngharn Advance.Tames, March. 21,19 -Page 11
PiIot a sacia#inn
to erect lmmoriaI
The Wartime, PilOts and
Observers '"Association of
Winnipeg has, to date,
organized three very suc-
cessful Commonwealth
Wartime Aircrew Reunions
and presently is organizing a
fourth reunion for Sep-
tember 6 to 9 of this year.
It is expected a total of
5,000 registrants and their
wive• will gather at the
Winnipeg. Conv'e1►tion
Centre. In addition to
organizing the reunion, the
association has undertaken
the responsibility of
establishingan appropriate
memorial to those who gave
their lives while training
under the British Com-
monwealth Air • Training
Plan.
Most other' commands
have their respective
memorials, but the hundreds
of boys and young men from
the Commonwealth coun-
tries who gave their lives
while training in Canada,
now lie in the cemeteries of
cities, towns and hamlets
near where long -abandoned
training fields 'once existed.
These men, all but forgotten
except by family and
friends, died just as
honorably in the cause of
freedom as did their
comrades
in arms who lost -
their lives while serving on
operational squadrons. -
'The association intends to
erect a fitting ,memorial
"Airman in Tratntng""' in an
appropriate . location and
have it available for
dedication during the parade
and cenotaph service Sun-
day, Sept. 9.
The association is inviting
donations to offset the cost. of
this memorial, especially
from aircrew members who
personally were involved
with the BCATP, but also
from relatives, friends or
groups which would want to
remember.
11 you believe it is im-
portant that future
generations know about this
time in. history, when many
thousands of young men
from all parts of the Com-
monwealth voluntarily came
together in Canada to train
and take their places in the
war in the air and that many
of these men made the
supreme sacrifice while still
under training, then please
send a cheque or money
order to: BCATP Memorial,
(in care of) Royal, Trust, 330
St. Mary Avenue, Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada, R3C 3Z5.
Seniors'
Day Centre News
By Rita Rice
This Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday at 1:30 p.m.,
the centre will be showing
the award-winning film, "If
You Love This Planet": Any
area senior is invited to
come in and view this film on
nuclear disarmament:
- Thanks are extended to
everyone who helped con-
tribute to the great success
of our St. Patrick's Day
art last Thursday af-
ternoon. We weren awa-
we had so many Fred
Astaires.attheoentr;e.::
Upcoming programs at the
centre include a visit from
Bob Perry, pastor at the
United Church in Bluevale
who will be our guest
speaker next Tuesday at 1
p.m. The next foot clinic is
scheduled for next Wed-
nesday from 1-3 p.m.
A field officer from the
Canada Pension Plan and
the Old Age' Security
Benefits Office from Sarnia
will address the seniors April
4. at 10 a.m. in the morning
and April 5, Rev. Paul Mills
from St. Andrew's Presby-
terian Church will be speak-
ing on his unique beekeeping.
hobby. If bees and honey in-
terest you, plan to attend this
program.
The centre will be taking a
bus to the Belmore Maple
Syryp Festival Thursday,
April 12. Any senior in the
community who wishes to go
should call 357-1440 or 357-
1445. We still are accepting
bookings for table rentals for
the. April 7 flea market also.
If anyone has any unwanted
articles or baking to donate
preciate those too.
A.reininder-,to a11.Aeom-
munity groups and service
clubs: the videotape "Aging
in a Rural Environment" is
now available at the centre
for use by any ,group. It was
produced by the University
of Guelph.
A meeting of the staff of
the centre and its volunteers
Will be held Friday at 11-a.rh.
at the centre to discuss
upcoming events such as the
flea market.
An interesting statement
for thought this week is: Man
does not cease to play
because he grows old, he
grows old because he ceases
to play.
ST. PATRICK'S DANCE --George Tervit Jr. did the call-
ing for the square dances at last Thursday's St.
Patrick's Day dance at the Wingham Day Centre for the
Homebound. A good crowd turned out for some good
old Irish blarney including ono Man, Robert rhOmpson
of Wingham, who was born In the Emerald Isle. '