HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-04-18, Page 24I � I
IB8. — THE HURON EXPOSITOR APRIL 18, 1984
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Performers find Vaudevillians
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For audience members, The Vaudevil-
lians, the next production of The Theatre
Circle may be a chance to sit back, tap their
toes to the music, enjoy a good laugh and
have a good time forgetting their troubles
but to the performers, it's not only hard
work; it's a learning experience.
As part of the process of taking a script off
paper and putting it on stage, actors usually
research their characters and their back-
grounds but the research for The Vaudevil-
lians has turned into a virtual history lesson
of the entertainment industry of the past,
says director Steve Coopman.
Vaudeville was the top of the entertain-
ment world in the early part of the century
going right up until World War Two.
Vaudeville was finished off forever by
television but ironically lived on on the tube
of the Ed Sullivan Show which was really
vaudeville adapted for television.
In The Vaudevillians, three old vaudevil-
lians look back at the glory days when being
a vaudeville star meant glamor, adulation
and wealth. Unlike many of their fellows
such as George Burns and Gracie Allen, Bob
Hope and even Cary Grant who went on to
fabulous careers in movies, radio and
television, this trio saw their good life
evaporate when the vaudeville houses began
to close. In the show, they bring many of the
old songs and comedy routines back to life
for their audience in a lesson on the history
of vaudeville that's informative but very
easy to take.
All three performets in the show say it
requires more versatility than any play
they've been in recently. For James Fagan
stool
906
Tait it means having to brush up on his
dance he hasn't used in more serious plays.
Because of the tremendous variety of the
show, one minute the actor is playing an
aged -vaudevillian looking back, the next
doing a strenuous dance routine, the next a
slapstick comedy routine the next singing an
old -favourite from the stage takes, a
tremendous amount of energy. By the end of
an eight-hour rehearsal period, he says, he's
found himself so tired he didn't know when
someone was talking to him.
Anthony Shatsky also talks about the
versatility required, a welcome change after
doing a number of straight acting assign-
ments. The biggest challenge is trying to put
together all the talents required by the show,
the music; the dance and the acting. He
must hurriedly change character (and often
costumes) from old to young, from song and
dance man to comic doctor in virtually a
blink of an eye. And he must cover a big
range in singing from "the lowest note to
beyond my range" he says.
Singing is no problem for Jayne Smiley,
the lone female member of the cast. Jayne's
experience on stage has been mostly in
opera, she says, and vaudeville, is much
closer to the skills required for opera than
most modern Broadway musicals are
because . vaudeville stars had to be able to
sing to the patrons of 4000 seats without the
use of microphones. But there's a difference
in the way the performers in The Vaudevil-
lians relate to their audience than in her
experience in opera, Jayne says. Opera, like
straight theatre, uses what is called the
"fourth wall convention" which imagines
for
Don & Marilyn
McDonald & Family
eCOPNC)6
Apr. 19
who lost their home and contents
to fire
at
Brussels , Morris & Grey
Community Centre
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
9:00 p.m.
Ladles Please Bring Lunch
8 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Admission $3.00
(Tickets at the door)
P.R.S. Disc Jockey
Seaforth & District
Community Centres
Sponsored by
Booster Club
& Jr. Farmers
that the audience is just a fourth wall Of the
room and the actors or opera singers•
perform as if the audience wasn't there. The
vaudeville stars, however, played .to their
audience, milking them for every laugh,
making them weep with sad songs.
Steve Coopman says The Vaudevillians is
an excellent show for the actors because'they
get a chance to be performers as well as
actors. They get a chance to play to and with
the audience. to pull out all the stops and
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�prience
4 I,
give eexythillg they've got to entertain.
Auciiened'reaction is very important to the
way the performers carry on during the
show. They must respond to what the
audience likes and give them more.
For the 'diiector, it's also an opportunity,
Steve says, because it gives him a chance to
make use of lots of physical comedy as well
ashi ;ackground in song and dance. At the
santetime it provides a challenge to develop
the "characters of the three old-time
vaudevillians the show is about.
Members and wives at
convention in Stratford
World War veterans attending the meeting
wheras 10 years ago there would have been
at least two or three dozen. The fall
convention will be held in Cambridge -Pres-
ton in' October.
Of the two bowling teams that went to
Fergus, the team of Joan and Don Eaton,
Marg and Al Smale and Ann. and Don Wood
bowled well and came in second. Practice
must be paying off for some.
Of the bus load that went to the races in
Orangeville, I haven't heard whether there
were any instant millionaires on the way
home or not. We hope everybody had a good
time; these bus trips have proved very
popular in the past.
Quite a few members have been inquiring
about the old furniture that is now stored in
the branch. It was decided at a committee
meeting that we would have a sale next
Monday at 7 p.m. and offer the tables and
chairs at $5 a chair and $10 a table at a first
come first served basis. The date is Monday,
Apr. 23.
This Thursday is our nomination meeting
night. A proposed slate of officers has been
listed but further 'nominations would be
welcomed .for any of the positions listed.
At the going down of the sun and in the
morning we will remember them.
Gordon Scott
P.R.O.
Huron County Playhouse
has entertainment for kids
Huron Country Playhouse announces a
very special entertainment series for young
theatregoers. This series will feature three
outstanding events guaranteed to thrill and
amaze the young in body and the youhg at
heart.
Leading off the series on July 10 will be
Brian Glow The Magician. Brian is master of
Canada's largest magic productions. He has
performed internationally in the United
States, Western Europe and Africa and, in
1985 will be touring in Japan, Hong Kong and
Australia. His fresh material and inventive
approach .leave both children and adults
smiling and speechless as well as roaring
with laughter at his wit, his charm and his
mystifying tricks.
On July 24, Child's Play Productions will
present The Polka Dot Door Live. What child'
SENIOR CITIZEN
'CARD
PARTY
TUESDAY ,
APRIL 24
AT THE v
SEAFORTH
LEGION
Sponsored by
Seaforth
JUNIOR FARMERS
FOR RIDES CALL
Nancy Schade
MONDAY, APRIL 23 7-10 p.m.
527-0327
is not familiar with Humpty and Dumpty,
Marigold and Bear? Now is their chance to
see their favorites in person at HCP. It's a
splendid and exciting show which, of course,
Also includes The Polkarool
Finally, on Aug. 21, Children's Hour
Prod1ctions present the special children's
musical BUT I'M JUST A KID, an up -beat,
original show with a multitude of special
effects and songs such as "Haircuts' and
"Going Into Grade One".From the explosive
start of the show until the last mist fades, the'
children are given an earful and an eyeful of
one of the most dynamic shows ever mounted
for their ears and eyes.
All three children's shows will be sold on a
subscription of ten dollars (one ticket for each
show) or on an individual show basis at $4.00
each.'Each show will have two performances.
For further information, please contact
Huron Country Playhouse.
Flags, balloons
buttons for
Canada Da
Groups seeking assist nce 'or activities
celebrating Canada's irthd y this year
should watch for appl' ations •eing distrib-
uted this month by t e Ontar',, Canada Day
Committee.
The Committee can provide communities
with seed money, promotional items, and
advice, municipalities may also obtain
funding for fireworks displays. The deadline
for receiving applications is May 1.
Applications have already been mailed to
organizations who applied for grants in
previous years.
Material is also available to help groups
with organization, including pamphlets on
publicity, planning and project ideas. For the
celebration itself, the Committee can provide
logos, paper hand flags, balloons, buttons
and other paraphernalia on a first come - first
served basis.
This past weekend has been a very busy
one with the District Convention ' in
Stratford, two teams of bowlers attending
the . Fergus mixed invitational, and our
sports officer Jim Watson sponsoring a bus
to the Orangeville races on Sunday
afternoon.
There were.12 members and their wives
attending the . two-day convention in Strat-
ford and a total of 400 ' from the various
branches in the District which extends from
Cambridge , on the east to Meaford tnd
Tobermory in the north and south to Exeter.
Although the overall membership is
increasing every year, the actual number of
veterans is decreasing somewhat each year,
a grim reminder to our associate members
that the day is coming when they will have to
make all the decisions. The average age of
the veteran today' is much older than the
First World War veteran was atthe end of
World War Two.
On Sunday there were only two First
Heather Reddick was -honored
mittee of Theatre -Ontario and the Board of
Management of the St. Lawrence Centre for
the Arts.,
Huron Country Playhouse.General Man-
ager Heather Redick was presented with the
Victor Polley Award for excellence in Arts
Administration/Arts Facilities Management.
She received the award at the World Theatre
Day celebrations held at the Young Peoples'
Theatre in Toronto on Mar. 27.
The Victor Polley Award is given annually
to a theatre professional who has demon-
strated superlative skills in the business and
administrative end of theatre and, general
arts management. Heather Redick, has been
at Huron Country Playhouse since 1981.
Under her guidance the Playhouse has
progressed to the point of being one of
Canada's leading summer theatres which
excels not only artistically but also in the
business areas of entertainment.
"It is always gratifying to receive compli-
ments from members of our audience," she
said. "To gain recognition from other
professionals is truly encouraging. Those of,
us at Huron Country Playhouse have had
some measure of success in the past, and with
the continued support from the theatre
conununity, from the government and, most
of all, from our audiences, we will continue to
grow, prosper and entertain all who come to
visit our complex."
The Victor Polley Award is administered
by the Professional Theatre Training Com-
The Seaforth Optimist Present -
The Seaforth & District Bi -Centennial
MARDI
GRAS
FRIDAY
MAY 25
Featuring
THE RONNIE PROPHET
SHOW
INCLUDING
GLORIA ANN CARRIERE
JOHN GULLY BAND
FROM NASHVILLE
SHOWTIME 8:00 p.m.
DANCETIME 11.00 p.m.
AT THE SEAFORTH & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRES
SATURDAY
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TUES.
WED.
MICHAEL
CAINE
IN
LAST 2
DAYS
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• The new police recruits.
AT
SAO P.M.
i1 tiJ *UT
O15•1 TWEM5E. cU:1GIY FO}
FRI.-SAT. 7 &
STARTS THURS., APRIL 19 SUN.,THURS. `:o° P.M.
Just don't call them
when you're in trouble.
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• 24 HOUR MOVIE
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Call them slobs.
Call them jerks.
Call them gross.
REMEMBER
EVERY TUESDAY
ADULTS -YOUTHS
$2.00
LINE 524-7811
MAY 26
BICENTENNIAL KICK OFF
PARADE (2 P.M.)
FEATURING....
8 MARCHING BANDS, 8 ONTARIO SHRINERS,
FLOATS, ANTIQUE CARS, CLOWNS, ETC.
BICENTENNIAL BAND
TATOO 3 - 5 p.m
FREE ADMISSION
BARBEQUE CHICKEN & 5
PORK CHOPS p.m.
(PREPARED BY KiNBURN FORESTERS)
DANCE TO
RAISIN' CAIN
AND THE
JUBILAiRES ARENA HALLI
9-1 7 -m• AT THE SEAFORTH
& DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRES
ICE BURFACE1
RDNNOE PROPHET SHOW/DANCE - SEA
BARBECUE SE.00SA'. AFTERNOON.FREE-DANCE $5.00
GET YOUR WEEKEND PASS — $15.00
"'Red
SuPPl,t CALL S27-0120
What an Institution!
*MAW COMPANY
COARSE LANGUAGE
4 PREMIER THEATRES
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es ••••„•••• •r• rF fYa.•Frr•F •VYYYY,ra
LJSTEING DRIVE-IN
YYYYYY�YiY YYWsYVY"`YY YY'Yi W'YYfYYY 'Y YY"'
Friday - Saturday - Sunday
April 20-21-22
BOX OFFICE OPENS 7:00 P.M. 1ST SHOW 7:40
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,ens
DISC JOCKEY SERVICE
Country Gold &
Rock 'N' Roll
Good recorded music for weddings,
dances, anniversaries, parties, etc.
Phone Brussels evenings & afternoons
887-6159
FAMILY PARADISE
CAMPGROUND
sod DANCE HAL
-NEW-
howl PHI seal
Fitt T•b
HEATHER REDICK
the ro-oprralots
BRUCE SMITH
SalesR.pr.s•nta*Iv.
Mltchall Cb:op Atom
130 O.or•Ina Strait
Mltcit.Il, Ont. MK 1NI
BUS: 34114415
lbw 3u-1075
the t;o-opeat,
Liu ,nSU11ANC 1 AND fMANUAL SE.V•CtS
011; NOMY • .U,0 • wuKt1f • PAIN.
KINBURN FORESTERS
DANCE
Sat. MAY 5
SEAFORTH &
DISTRICT COMMUNITY
CENTRES
MUSIC BY
JIM MEDD &
the Pleasure Pak
Proceeds to community betterment
9-1
Moo
PER PERSON
Age of Majority
THIS AD COURTESY OF
STRATFORD MEMORIALS,
ROSS RIBEY - AGENT
527-1390
WARN!
HORROR
b
IIRt17AL
VIOLENCE
High School
Honor Strident by Day.
Hollywood Hooker
by Night.
Stephen King's
CHILDREN OF THE CORN
GEL
ADMITTANCE
ESTRICTED
..,,N,
RMSa •CJ Of OM
[7DDED FRIDAY
ONLY
The creators
of MIEN...
...brine a nets
terror to Earth.
squats
...Tec RcadsiorY-
AVGo f
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WARNING •
DEALS WIWISIX
• n rtiiiIt.tkr your breath a'wir...art of it. & VIOLENCE. •
• ••s•••.•••••••®•••••••••••••••t•
Yfue) Seaforik q-larmaifgeing5
4nd annual
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
leineSkNy
SEAFORTH HARMONY KINGS -MALE BARBERSHOP CHORUS!
HARMONY HI-LITES - LADIES' BARBERSHOP CHORUS
TOWN a COUNTRY FOUR - LOCAL BARBERSHOP QUARTET!
THE REGAL ROGUES - SPECIAL GUEST QUARTET!
at the
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HALL
Saturday, April 21st
at 7:59 P.M.
Adults $400 * Students $30°
Member of Ontario District Association of Chapters