The Citizen, 1986-12-17, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1986.
F
"Prairie Boy's Winter' sure to last
GOMRKM •
$24-7111 •
portrayal of the differences be
tween two brothers, the pain those
differences cause, and the joy in at
last finding an understanding of
each other.
Based on the story of Kurelak’s
own prairie childhood, as depicted
in his prolific paintings and stories
of the times as he remembered
them, the play nonetheless, has a
happier outcome than did the
artist’s own life. Kurelak died of
cancer in 1977, at the age of 50,
soon after he had become known
and loved by thousands of Cana
dians from all walks of life, and
belatedly recognized by critics as
one of the really important Cana
dian landscape artists.
Born in northeastern Alberta to a
Ukranian family ruled by a father
who was an old-fashioned patri
arch, harsh, strict, and contemptu
ous of his high-strung and imagi
native eldest son, Kurelak grew up
starved for affection, knowing that
neither parent was ever satisfied
with him.
According to biographer Joan
Murray, his Parents’ contempt
turned Kurelak tongue-tied and
BY TOBY RAINEY
William Kurelak’s book ‘‘A
Prairie Boy’s Winter” is dedicated
to ‘ ‘all those who have experienced
aprairiewinter,and to all those
who would like to.” Not all
Canadians have been fortunate ,
enough to have been enthralled by
the bleakness and haunting beauty
of a western winter, but some of the
feeling definitely made itself
known at the three performances of
the stage adaption of the book,
which played to packed houses at
the Blyth Memorial Hall over the
weekend.
From the barren landscape of
the single set used throughout the
hour-long performance, to the
sturdy self-reliance of the prairie
children during a Depression
winter, the presentation must have
brought an ache of nostalgia to
those of us who remember a youth
in simpler times, when life’s
dearest dream could be for a
‘‘C.C.M. Flyer hockey stick that
cost a whole $1.10.”
Set in a rural community in
southern Manitoba in 1934, the
simple story takes place over the 1
course of one winter, a moving
deeply shy, full of baffled pain
mingled with fury, arrogance
mixed with self-doubt, and the
urgent need of approval.”
His dark and tortured life
reached a crisis in the mid 1950’s,
when he was hospitalized for four
years with a nervous breakdown,
although he continued to paint
during his entire illness. He
recovered, to return to Toronto in
1959, where he finally found a
mentor in gallery owner Avrom
Isaacs, who introduced his work to
the public.
Still seeking approval, the artist
asked Isaacs to “tell my father you
think my paintings are good.” At
the same time, his mother is
quoted as saying of Kurelak’s
success, “It’s alright... but will it
last?”
Last it will indeed, and the man
who has finally become recognized
by nearly all Canadians will most
certainly be re-discovered by all
those who see and love “A Prairie
Boy’s Winter.”
The play is presented by the
Prairie Theatre Exchange of Win
nipeg, and is presently on a tour
sponsored by The Manitoba
Government Employees’ Associa
tion. From Blyth, it goes on to an
engagement at Ottawa’s National
Arts Centre.
•TW5SQUARE
IL
SOMEWHERE
ON EARTH...
1986.
THURSDAY,
DUNDEE "F’/F
PAUL HOGAN 7:30
THE FATE OF THE
FUTURE LIES
HIDDEN IN
THE PAST,
STARTS FRIDAY, DEC. 19th fri-sat. 7 & 9: sun.-thurs. 7:30
‘2.50 TUESDAY SPECIAL SAT.-SUN. 2:00 p.m.
TH6 VQYAG€ HOM€
THE STAFF OF THE PARK
THEATRE WISH YOU
*• • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••••••••••
Musicals and comedies head
choices for Playhouse season
Giving audiences what they
enjoy most is what Huron Country
Playhouse artistic director Steven
Schipper intends to do for the 1987
season.
In announcing the 1987 playbill
at the annual meeting held recent
ly, Schipper said the season would
be a continuation of what the
Playhouse has been striving to do:
‘‘give the audiences what they
enjoy most... and produce it the
best that we can.”
The Playhouse won’t tamper
with the formula of plays used last
year which ga\e them a successful
season.
Brussels
Lions
pass test
Brussels Lions Club held its
Christmas party at the Royal
Canadian Legion Dec. 8 with 28
members and 55 guests present.
After a roast beef dinner served
by the Legion Ladies Auxiliary and
a welcome to the guests, perfect
attendance pins were presented by
Paul Mutter to 19 lions. A
20-year-pin was presented to
Henry Exel, a 10-year-pin to Jack
Knight and a five-year-pin to Dave
Hastings.
Neil McGavin introduced Cor
poral Bill Skelding from the
Wingham detachment of the
Ontario Provincial Police. Assisted
by Constable Al Hunter, Cpl.
Skelding tested a number of
volunteers on a breathalizer ma
chine.
Entertainment was provided by
Bob Finlay of St. Thomas who won
a standing ovation for this show
with song and story.
Advertising is
a guide to
fashion.
Schipper described the plays for
the new season, which is set to kick
off June 30, as bouncy, zesty,
farcical, ingenious, enchanting
and magical. The first play of the
1987 season will be the Rogers and
Hart musical comedy, Babes In
Arms.
Scheduled to follow Babes in
Arms, is the farcical comedy,
There Goes The Bride, by Ray
Cooney and John Chapman.
The third play of the season will
be Corpse, described by the artistic
director as ‘‘the thriller of the
‘80’s.”
The season will conclude with
the Lorner and Loewe musical
comedy, Brigadoon.
Playhouse II will feature three
shows, Papers, Shubert Alley and
Your Wildest Dreams, with the
emphasis again on comedy and
fantasy.
Season tickets for members and
subscribers will go on sale by mail
on January 5 and will be made
available to the public on May 4.
Dave Sheppard, who is complet
ing his second term as president,
termed the 1986 season ‘‘an
interesting year” and lauded
Schipper and the staff for making it
a successful one.
Ed Iskauskas was also com
mended by Sheppard for chairing
this year’s successful lot draw.
Sheppard called it the best fund
raising effort in the history of the
Playhouse.
The Guild also received Shep
pard’s high praise as the best
support group of all. He added that
he hoped the ladies’ organization
would ‘‘last forever.”
Finance chairman, Russ Ling-
ad, spoke briefly, noting the
Playhouse finances have been
stable for the past five years and
are improving all the time.
Auditor Ken Pinder backed
Lingard and explained that the
board was in a relatively strong
financial position.
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information
Merry ChrietaM
FROMTHE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT
OFTHELYCEUMTHEATRE
Patti, Ward, Heidi, Hailey, Jodi, Marlene, Monicaand Ron************
Thetheatre will be closed from Friday, December 19
toThursday, December25.
We will be re-opening Friday, December 26 with
CROCODILEDUNDEE