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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 THE DUTCH STORE IN CLINTON SOUVENIRS lit,,EXCLUSIVE GIFTS Knitting yarns Imported DUTCH CHEESE & DELICATESSEN items at very competitive PRICES And remember...A trip to Clinton is riot complete without a visit to THE DUTCH STORE 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. , A Standard Classified will pay you dividends. Have you tried 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 Everything under the sun.... Aprons Books' Cards and. 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