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The Brussels Post, 1978-07-05, Page 20nnitrn filloppr BAYFIELD, ONTARIO [519] 565-2775 - HUDSON BAY DEPOT - ,---- • , ..5. ti tilt Mohairs - Woollens - Sportswear. - Canadian Crafts • Scottish Jewellery - Collectibles and Antiques ' (Back Room) SEE OUR HANDCRAFTED PINE REPRODUCTIONS Made on the premises SHOWROOM AT REAR [by Alice Gibb] It's purely happy coincidence that the Blyth Summer Festival is presenting a play about Dr. William "Tiger" Dunlop on the 150th anniversary of the Huron toad. Dunlop, with John Galt and iSauartan 3tin ON HIGHWAY 21 AT BAYFIELD Specializing in . Home Cooked German and. Canadian Foods • Wiener Schnitzel • Cordon Bleu • Sauerbraten • Beef Rouladen • Smoked Pork Chops • Bavarian Goulash & Sausage • Steaks & Chops • Homemade Pastries Relax in our Air Conditioned Dining Lounge. and Discptheque or Outdoor Garden Patio FULLY LICENSED BY L.L.B.O. JUST SOUTH OF BAYFIELD ON' THE BLUEVVATER HIGHWAY Phone [51915654843 YOUr Hosts: Kathe & EtiC:.Krohmet Fully Licensed by L.L.B.O. BAYFIELD. ONTARIO (519) 565-2576 Visit Our Gift Shop Across The Road IF Thri TRAIL New this Year • hart ~ 440 osot RIDES s5." per;-our • 446 FUN FOR ALL AT: jELLYSTONE PARK . Phone 565-2179 : BAYFIELD THE OLD SAME PLACE toys weedlore U fine crafts Featuring Mr. Woodchuck's wooden toys good for one dollar on the purchase of a mr woodchuck wooden toy over five dollars. made in box 19i. BAYFIELD 51462496 8 --THE BLYTH SUMMER. FESTIVAL ISSUE, JULY 5, 1978 Play help.s. Huron. celebtate 150 Colonel Anthony -van Egmond, was instrumental in opening up the Huron Tract under the auspices of the sometimes praised, sometimes despised, Canada Company. Peter Colley, the playwright ftom London, Ontario, who was commissioned to write The Huron Tiger for the Blyth Summer Festival, said he was immediately captured by the character of Dunlop, who had so many facets to his personality. The man could be rowdy and behave like the roughest backswoodsman, and yet he was also a medical doctor, a well-spoken member of the landed gentry, and a regular contributor to Blackwoods Magazine, one of Scotland's most distinguished literary publica- tions. Mr. Colley, himself descended from a family of English music hall artists, is the author of The The War Show and The Connelys, both Theatre London hits, and last summer presented another of his works, titled The Vaude- villians, at the Gallery Theatre in London. He is also currently working on a play commissioned by the University of Western Ontario to celebrate their Centennial. The playwright, who often doubles as an actor, said he was performing in The Little Prince at the Blyth theatre last summer, when James Roy, the artistic director, took him aside and, asked if he would be interested in writing an original play based on some historical event from this area. When Colley agreed, then. Roy said, "Well, have you thought about Tiger Dunlop?" When he started his research, Colley found there was more information than he needed about the eccentric doctor who helped found the town of Goderich, Scotsman with both fiery temperament and a razor sharp wit to match. Experimental When he produced the first draft of the play, Colley experi- mented with the fragmented approach he had used in other plays and covered all of DunlOp's life. Then, on re-considering the script, he decided the major crises in Dunlop's life occurred in' the 1837-1841 period when the doctor finally left the Canada Company in.. a rage, narrowly escaped matrimony and ran for election as a member of the Legislative Assembly. Colley took the liberty of cramming all these events into "an old fashioned three act play" which takes place in a short span cf time at Gairbraid, the Dunlop estate outside Goderich. The play's themes center around the 1837 farmers' rebellion, Dunlop's relationship with his housekeeper Lou and the emotional effects on the doctor of the death of his brother, Robert. "The play is basically a comedy with a little bit of drama mixed, in," said the playwright. Surprisingly, Colley already knew something of the history of the Canada Company since it. is, often mentioned in. English histories as the example of a successful colonial • company. Allthough the company, and its agent, the strong-willed Thomas Mercer Jones, feature as the train antagonists in The Huron Tiger, Colley said Dunlop can't really be regarded as the hero, Since his motives often aren't what they seem. In , researching Dunlop's character, the playwright discovered the doctor poSsessed what the Greeks consider a fatal flaw. While Dunlop appeared to do the right things, he often, did them for entirely the wrong reasons. For example, when he offered to stand as a candidate for parliament, it wasn't really to right the many wrongs faced by the settlers of the Huron Tract-- Peter Coney rather, Dunlop was attracted by the 500 pounds yearly salary and the chance to party with' his cohorts in Toronto. Rehearsing Although the actors started rehearsing the play on Monday, Colley said he will be changing the play as rehearsals progress and more nuances develop in the characters. Although he admits it isn't always popular with the actors, Colley tends to add lines to his script right up to the night before the play is performed. The Huron Tiger opens the Blyth Summer Festival season on July 7. While. Colley will attend the play's rehearsals, to rewrite sections of the script and give the actors some additional back- ground material on the characters they're portraying, James Roy will be directing the play. Colley said the dilemma he faced in attempting to base a play on Dunlop's life was whether to do a straight historical play, based entirely on the facts, and risk producing a dull play or whether to produce a dramatic work, using some artistic license in changing the facts so the play would work well on stage. Colley chose the latter, and although the costumes and props will be as historically accurate as passible, the action of the play will sandwich a number of years I Dunlop's life together for more dramatic effect. Colley said Roy has proved a "good man" to work with, and a few weeks ago the two of them sat down and talked for hours about the different levels they wanted to achieve in The Huron Tiger. Marathon As a result of the marathon discussion, Colley said he re- wrote half the first act and ended up with a "vastly improved script." Tiger Dunlop won't be an easy man to portray on stage--the eccentric character was a lively talker, had a slight problem with drink, inhaled handfuls of snuff, mercilessly teased his housekeepr Iou and then tricked his poor 'brother into marrying the woman, quoted endlessly from classical literature and managed to (Continued on Page 9)