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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-16, Page 11There are a few rare and, Very special actors who can hOld-you spellbound. Spellbound to the point that Whatever " the distractions, from indigestion to an tindOmfoitahle seat to restless neigbbours with rattling candy 'wrappers, you forget that what's happening on Stage isn't actually someone's life unfolding in front of you. , I've been lucky enough te see a performer who can draw 'you'into the play so completely you forget he or she is acting only a very few thnes. One actor was Alec Guinness, playing the part of a traitor, in an otherwise forgettable ,Eritish play that he transformed into a memorable piece of „theatre, Another of those rare pet -formers is Jessica Tandy and she's much closer to home. Miss Tandy is the 4norphine-addicted Mary Tyrone is Long Days Journey Into Night, the—plaTRobin Phillips has directed as his 'curtain call at the F'estival. In the course of the play, Mary Tyrone disintegrates before the audience's eyes from a ,nervous, somewhat distracted mother concerned about her youngest son's lingering ill health, to a haunted woman who knows her family is watching for her next slide into ;madness to the last act's lost soul who finds comfort only in the memories of an idyllic childhood. Long Day's Journey Into Night is a difficult play - long, emotionally -destructive and tiring. But Jessica Tandy, who is recreating a role she performed at Theatre London some years ago, is one of that rare breed who holds her audience spellbound -and makes them care about the haunted woman on stage. • TORTURED LADIES Many of 'Jessica Tandy's greatest parts have been tortured ladies -she created Blanche in the Broadway hit, A Streetcar Named Desire, she was the honourable daughter Cordelia in King Lear with Sir. John Gielgud, and the stubborq old lady Fonsia in The Gin Game. In real life, she's anything but the tortured soul, but she is very much the lady. This summer, Jessica Tandy was the guest at the Festival's -last session where the public has a chance to meet Festival staff and ask all the things they've ever wanted to know about -Mein the theatre. Jessica Tandy, who at 71 years of age, is white-haired - and rather fragile -looking, strode on stage with the energy of a teenager. From the time Jessica Tandy was a child, and a rather ..1.1.1••••••=.4,4m, Serendipity by Alice Gibb sickly child who missed a" good deal of school, "I never wanted to be anything else (but an actress)." Since her. brothers created their own dramas, and "I was the only girl in the family so they had to have me", she acted Now, "I cannot imagine any other life for myself." The challenge that has kept her in the theatre is going to rehearsals, and gradually finding the nuances of the character• she plays. Anyway, as she says with a twinkle, even itshe did want to do something else, "it's much too late to start now." There haven't been many "thin patches" in Jessica _TandylscareerAirnes when -she -was -unemployed -,-and the -- actress said she thinks it is; because she's willing to take chances with roles. These chances included playing Blanche, a Sotithern belle who's on the faded side, in Tennesse William's Streetcar Named Desire -and that is the part she - sWoured most in her career, because she was the first actress to "discover it." MAINTAINING YOUR SANITY How, asked one agdience member, did you maintain your sanity when playing a demanding role like Blanche or the part of the ill-fated Mrs. Tyrone? The secret, Miss Tandy said, is to remember, "you are not being, you are portraying, you are not creating, you are interpreting." Her guideline has been you can't take the part home with you. While she may not take her part home, Jessica Tandy is married to a fellow actor, Hume Cronyn, who grew up in London, Ontario, and it's hard to imagine that theatre doesn't make up most of their conversation. This summer, Jessica Tandy said laughingly, she and her husband "are in the same old rut", playing husband and wife in the play, Foxfire, about life in the Appalanchias. To demonstrate her role in Foxfire. Miss Tandy first brieiy trnrisforms herself into the elderly Appalachian woman, who wants to stay on her mountain farm, and then, with a'ouick turn, changes, again into a young, coy' girl, attending her first siance. Without costume or set, the actress still captivates the audience. ... When asked why the actress and her husband, both well-known veterans of the Broadway stage, decided to, return to Stratford, Jessica Tandy said it's because "I love the fact that one never stops working here." She points out the danger of being in a successful, long-running play is that you're doing eight performances of the same role in a' • week. It's fatal if an actor gets bored with a role, since the audience senses that boredom. But at Stratford, "it's wonderful to do two things at once." There's one other trick of the trade the actress offers to those who want to risk life and Ihnb by going on stage. "The great secret is to listen to the person (your.co-actor) as if you'd never heard it before" and then she added, you'll say your lines as if you'd never said them before. COPING WITH FAILURE --- -When-asked- about' tlinifeeeiSeillidTailiiresof her career, Miss Tandy said while lots of people have talent, the key to success is nurturing that talent and learning to cope with failure. ' • tFailure is the rule more in the theatre than success, succesS' is rare." the actress -told the audience. When you fail, she said, you simply start all over again. She then recalled some of the great names in theatre she's workect'with over the year. Alfred Hitchcock was a particular favourite -"he treats his casts extremely well, not like cattle-" and Tyrone Guthrie, Stratford's first artistic director -"he has created some real monsters and I mean that in the best sense." Then, as the program was drawing to the close, someone in the audienee asked the actress to define the art of performing. • The definition of technique repeated by the actress, and coined by her husband, would hold for anything any of us attempt. "Technique", she said, "is the private and personal method of getting the best out of yourself." In her years on the stage, Jessica Tandy has done just that. At at) age when many of us would be content to step graciously into..--the..-background. she's still accepting challenges -challenges that test her skills to their limits. It'sWQMier she can holdaudiences spellbound. People Mr. and Mrs. Don MacRae of Mission City, B.C. were in town recently while on the return part of trans Canada tour on their first visit to this part of Ontario -,they were Interested in seeing the former residence of the tale H.E. Smith on John Street because of their association tvith the former Helen Smith now of Calgary. Blindness through iniurv or disease can happen to anyone. Money can't buy sight but. . . no family is immune. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind offers rehabilitative and support services which help 6"0 it4ipigo Ar41. co 0 AUTUMN FAIR Northside United Church 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 113th Featuring, Home Baking, Sewing, Crafts, Garden Centre and afternoon tea. Small admission includes cup of tea. support minor sports People visually impaired people live full. productive lives. As a charitable organization. CNIB relies on public donations to continue its important services. In the Seaforth area the campaign is in charge of a committee of the Lions who seeks the support of the public. The 1980 objective is S1,950. but only S8,50. has been received. The campaign requires S1,100.00. Mr. and Mrs. Melv in Scott of Fargo, North Dakota and Mrs. Philip Speak of Woodstock visited with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ryan and other relatives in Walton Area. Mrs. Cliff McEwan MOOSC Jaw, Mr. and Mrs. Andy THE LEGION NEWS BY JACK ELSLER PRO The membership committee determined to maintain the record it has established in recent years) reports that already 3,5t7o of membership dues for 1981 have been paid. Winners in the Early Bird draw last month were John Cairns Sr., Molly Kunder. Bob Doig and Fern Chesney. Members are reminded that the next regular meeting is set for Thursday, October EUCHRE / ,, „ ' ,IP Rebekahs And Oddfellows Wednesday, October 22 8 p.m. S1.00 per person LUNCH PROVIDED CAR RALLY Sunday, Oct. 19th Starts at 1:30 p.m. at Seaforth District High School CASH PRIZES 9, 9 Ater(' r loth at 8 p.m. That's tonight. A district Meeting is being held in Kincardine. Sunday. October 19th at 1:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to go please call Bill Wilbee. Gardner, Toronto. Mrs. George Aberhart son Charles... Mrs. Barbara Zanitz, Tracey, Mr. and Mrs. Don Abernart, Miss Bea Aberhart, uoaenen. Mr. Rob Aberhart, Seaforth were Thanksgiving guests of Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Dale. Ron Scott, London, Mr. and MRs. Laverne Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Don Coleman, Kevin, Sherri Lynn, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Coleman were Thanksgiving visitors with Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cleave and family Exeter. Mr. and Mrs. Hank Van Rookies.) spent the Thanks- giving weekend at the home of their son Joe and his wife, Ruth in Burlington. Prior to that they spent three days with their son John and his family in Hamilton. Thanksgiving visitors with Mr. and Mrs. Eimer Townsend' in'Ffarphurey were Mr. and Mrs. Bob Haves, Wayne and Grant from Duntroon. Mr. Gary Haves of London, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Townsend and sons of Arthur, Mr. and Mrs. George Townsend and family and Mr. and Mrs. Alex Townsend and family of Tuckersmith. Mr. and Mrs. Art Wright have returned from visiting their son Douglas & family in Ottawa & Konata. Douglas is Manager of the Toronto Dominion Bank in the Konata City branch in the new Hazeldean Mall there. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hamilton and Miss Rorence McQuaid of Whitby spent the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. James McQuaid, Seaford). Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thompson motored to Paris visiting with cousins and then on to Toronto where Jack had an appointment to be fitted for a leg brace that will enable him to walk farther and to drive.. COMMERCIAL HOTEL u if THIS WEEK'S ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday to Saturday and Saturday Matinee 4 pan. to 6 p.m. Midnight Riders NEXT WEEK'S ENTERTAINMENT Wednesday to Saturday and Saturday Matinee 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Steelers FINE FOOD FINE ENTERTAINMENT Seaforth 's second... OLD TYME FIDDLE JAMBOREE Vrils, ,orroBER !pm kr— seofo=rh Atr,f, rrgh Srhool A orge ovrobe• of consp:oo ••:•vg•fly prod op,, cross f,ddrers rv,r1 be perform.ng, EVERYONE ElkoME' Supper 8 Refreshments ova riabre or. 011 s p e craro• BRING THE Vs‘ HMI*. FANI11.11 Pit,‘r FF: • THF k \ I' FRIT Ji RF•T,,R FRIO( T Sponsored by the Von Egmond Foundation 1.110011111 A BIG NIGHT—Janet Baker, left, of Seeforth, received a special 50 year membership pin from Noble Grand Marian Rose at the Edelweiss Rebekah Lodge meeting Monday evening. Watching_the proceedings is ----Jdyn-Flugill of RR2, Seaforth7who was inducted as a new member at the same meeting. (Photo by Ellis) 50 year jewel presented Eldelweiss Rebekah lodge met Oct. 13th. Marion Rose chaired the' meeting assisted by Irene Smith. The charter was draped in memory of Norman' Caughill, Deputy grand master of Grand lodge of Ontario. An invitation was received and accepted from Monkton Rebekah lodge for Oct. 24th at 8:15. A new member was received and a member presented with a 50 yr. jewel. The first joint euchre is to be held in lodge rooms Oct 22nd at 8 p.m. Happy birthday was sung to Hazel McGonigle, Olive Varley, Doris Hugill, and Ruth Campbell. Lunch was served by Rachel Riehl and her com- mittee. What's happening? What's happening is a weekly column,. space donated by The Huron Expositor. To list- your eventi.eallthe Recreation Off -ice -at 527-0882. DATE _ Wed.Oct 15 Wed. Oct. 15 Thurs. Oct. 16 Fri. Oct. 17 Sat. Oct. 18 Sat. Oct. 18 Sun. Oct. 19 Sun. Oct. 19 EVENT PLACE Mom.s & Tots Arena Skating Womens Broom - ball Games Mens Broomball Games Mitchell vs Centenaires Public Skating Arena Story Hour Library Public Skating Arena I .H.L. Games Arena Arena Arena Arena TI ME 1-3 p.m. 8:15-12:15 7:15-12:15 8:30 p.m. 1:30-3 p.m. 1:30-2:30 p.m. 2-4 p.m. 7-11 p.m. Steve Hildebrand Continued from page 12 to be bigger someday if things go well and I'd like to have my own grienhouse too," But in the meantime, Steven has the rare op- portunity of being his own boss at an age when most people can only dream of being independent. '11:1.1,1illoirrt Sr a • gpgtowN\rn oroVigH 527-0180 Ced you heat about the mfidget psychic who sewed from ptiaon, The headline reed: small, medium at time Eot in or Take out Hours Open Sun. thru Thurs. — 11 a.m. to Midnight Fri. & Sat. — 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. 16444101-1, tes st I WO* . . a 4 tgisisas 1400 Blyth Lions Club Blyth DIsiriet Community Centre Dancing 9-1:00 Prizes for best costumes 54.00 per person Oktoberfest food ORA. Junior "D" Hockey 1980 SEASON OPENER Mitchell Hawks vs. Seaforth Centenaires ,Friday, Oct 17 Seaforth Arena Tins ad la sponsored by: BAUER TRAVEL SERVICE MAIN ST. SEAFORTH 527.1237 Open: 9:30 - 5.00 Monday to Friday 9:30 to 12 noon Saturdays. LAST NIGHT WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15 W411 DISNEY MOOT/ONS nERBIE GOES BANANAS Starts THURSDAY! SHOWTIMES: OCT. 16 -OCT. 21 FRI. - SAT. TWO SHOWS 1 & 9 P.M. SUN. -TUTS. 8:-00 P.M. ALL ABOARD.. IF YOU DARE! TERROR TRAIN STARTS WED., OCT. 22 4 IA BRnW1L referSellers fbefienditiliotpf eltVndtio 'PARK GODERICH 0 TH PHONE 5241811 AIR CONOMONED PROC. • A SUBJECT TO CHANGENVITHOUT NOTICE