The Huron Expositor, 1978-07-06, Page 27Theatre Passe Muraille who 'is
known around Blyth for his work
in The Farm Show, and the
Horsburgh Scandal.
"It's an extremely difficult
project dealing with something as
) complex 'as education in Huron
County. One person has to
execute • all' these hopes and
dreams. Ted says.
The play is being directed by
Clark Rogers who has worked in
major theatres across the Country
including the_ Stratford Festival
Theatre.
Ted Johns himself was born
outside-of-Clinton—atid-his-fathier
still lives in Clinton. • He , has
taught elementary school, high
school, university. .. and also
worked as a supply teacher..
He has performed in' Blyth
before in "Naked on the North
Shore" and has contributed to
several other productions that
Paul Thompson has done in Blyth
including the Horsburgh Scandal.
Shakespeare for Ftin and Profit
and probably a lot of audiences
would remember him as the
central character in "He Won't
Comp in From the Barn."'
Of his play Ted says. "I think
schools arc an essential _part of
life-inkiTthink that what happens
RON FERGUSON
Best of Luck
to the
BLYTH SUMMER FESTIVAL
ON YOUR TRAVELS ... with friends
or relatives make it a point to• VISIT
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SOUVENIRS lit,,EXCLUSIVE GIFTS
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55 Albert St.
48'2-7302
Clinton Ont.
NOIM 1L0
THE BLYTH SUMMER FESTIVAL ISSUE, JULY 5, 1978-=-1"
The play's the. thing: with Ted Johns
in "I found it an . interestingly
complex thing. Eventually I felt I
had to choose a side. I guess what
side, is something they'll have to
come and see for themselves."
HoW Ron, actually mile to the
Blyth Summer Festival is an
interesting story in itself. Artisitic
director James Roy , had ad-
vertised the stage managing
position in a show business trade
paper. A friend of Ron's applied
for the position but was unable to
take it so when James Roy
phoned he told him about Ron.
James Roy did a quickie interview
over the phone and told Ron the
job was his if .he wanted it. That
was on a Monday and Ron came
up to Blyth the next day.
"It was a fluke," Ron says.
After his first year, at Blyth.
Ron worked with the University of
Toronto opera department as an
assistant stage manager, Then he
stage managed Harry's Back in
Town in Toronto. then went to
Theatre . New Brunswick ' and
stage managed..two shows, came
back 'to Blyth then went back, to
Theatre New Brunswick again.
Ron has•no desire to act on the
stage. at all.. In fact he thinks
many people have the, mis-
conception that behind the scenes
theatre people arc really
frustrated actors.
"Most people in production are
trained for that, because that's
what they want to ,do. When I
worked at the opera, that's when
really got into it. I'm quite happy
doing it right now;" he says.
Ron isn't sure yet what he'll be
doing when the Blyth theatre
season ends. So far he has just
been freelancing going from place,
to place.
"The play's the thing." Or at
least it is with Ted Johns who
when asked about himself will
give you a rundown of his play
first.
Ted who' so successfully
captured the audience's
imagination last yea in "He
won't Come In From the Barn" is
at it again this time acting out a
real-life drama--the teacher's
strike in Huron County.
As for the play itself it is
entitled. The 'School Show, it Is
written by Ted . Johns and
developed from a scenario worked
art with -Paul -Thompson
As stage manager for the Blyth
Summer Festival, a lot of re-
sponsibility for making sure the
shows run smoothly rests on the
Shoulders,„of Ron Ferguson.
Ron who will have b&n here
four years with this season. has to
organize schedules as far as
rehearsal times, organize re-
hearsals' for space, organize the
schedules so they fit in with
actors fittings and look after
things the actors and directors
need.
He is also responsible for a
production book which is the
script with all the stage blocking
in it. Eventually the production
book, also has to have in it all the'
lighting cues, all the actors
entrances and exits, and prop
movements--who uses what,
where, and set changes.
Tigger wants
to raise goats
in Greece
• Because Tigger was ill at the
time of the interviews, more
information and a picture of her
were not available.
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one? DiarS23-906.
Once the show starts, the stage
manager's job is far from being
over. In fact, the a nage manager
practically runs the show, ac-
cording to Ron. He has difect
communication with the lighting
board operator. calling all the
, cues and he also has a PA system
to the actors dressing room so he
can cue them, as to their entrance.
He alsoakes notes "about
't technical 'things that aren't•
working or if an actor's timing, is
off he also makes notes.
"You have to take this project
that the director has created and
you have to maintain it" Ron
says. •
Of a script he says;' "You have
to be aware enough to allow it to
grow in potential. In the rehearsal
you have to be involved in the
whole process."
He explained that the actors
had certain motivations and if
they lose•that he tries to put them
back on the right track.
Ron got his training at the
Theatre Department in Ryerson
Polytechnical Institute. After •
Ryerson, Ron worked at the
Ontario Youth Theatre for a
summer as a technician, then
worked with Theatre London as'
an apprentice in administration,
before coming to Blyth.
The first year he was at Blyth,
Ron had to be a jack-of-all-trades
He had to be the lighting designer
and the costume designer as well
as stage,. manager. In fact he was
the entire design and technical
department. •
to them and what happens
them concerns all of us."
"I think that the recent
teacher's strike in Huron drew
attention to the schools. The point
is ri; that event aroused really
shone passions in a lot of people
and 1 guess the simplest way to
put it is I hope my play not only
gives credit to the different points'
of view, but allows people to see'
some element of humor in it."
After he was in, He Won't
Come in From the Barn, in Blyth
last yeaT•The did another play in
Toronto, then did Naked on the
. _Dkrth_Shore_iri-Saskatoom----and----
then the opportunity came to
work in Blyth again.
And he is still in the coarse of
working on the ,play. "I'm fairly
confident at this point that it will
be of interest to :a number ol
people.'
_greatly enjoyed working on it.
If the people learn half as much'
from the ‘v.Itt? as I, did trying to
make it. I think it'll really ,be
worthwhile. It certainly has. been
an education for me."
He wrote the script after the
teacher's strikes in Perth and
Huron Counties and elSewhere.
Ron Ferguson makes sure
S-hOws run smQothl
• Tigger Jourard; one of .the
stage managers 'for the Blyth
Summer Festival has an in- •
teresting ambition for her life.
She thinks she'll go to Greece and ,
raise goats.
She attended Moira Secondary
School in Belleville, the
University of Waterloo and the
National Theatre School in
Montreal.
She has worked at the National
Theatre School, the Toronto Free
Theatre and the Peterborough
Festival of Canadian 'Theatre.
Ott? .,.er'ez
Vgl )13 AAt q,
TED JOHNS
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