The Citizen, 1990-04-18, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1990. PAGE 23.
Entertainment Author to speak at Goderich library
Theatre Review
Rousing musical start to finish
BY CHRISTINA ROULSTON
The Tapestry Music Theatre
production of “The Legend of the
Dumbells” was presented to an
almost full house at the Blyth
Memorial Hall Saturday, April 14.
This rousing musical kept the
audience on its toes from beginning
to end.
Written by George Salverson and
set in the midst of World War I,
The Legend of the Dumbells por
trays the story of eight Canadian
soldiers ordered to form a full-time
entertainment troop for the battle-
weary soldiers. Little character
development or plot is carried out
through the duration of the play.
The main attraction the play holds
is a long list of lively songs
designed to heighten the morale of
the troops.
The set itself, designed by
Lawrence Schafer, is a simple
representation of the scantiness
and drabness of a war setting.
Props, including a deteriorating
but functional piano, were also
good at providing the image of
having to make do with what was
available.
The play was lively and amusing
throughout. The large selection of
songs sometimes involved audi
ence participation and often
brought feet atappin’ and hands
aclappin’. Several of the actors
should be applauded for their
excellent performances. The char
acter of Ross Hamilton (played by
Timothy Murphy) spent periods on
stage in drag as “Marjorie” in
recognition that the troops wanted
to see women entertainers. The
audience was greatly surprised
Blyth Women’s Institute
elects new officers for 1990-1991
The Blyth Women’s Institute
enjoyed a delicious pot luck dinner
to start their annual meeting April
9.
The 4H girls held a bake sale
following the meal. People should
be proud to have such good bakers
in the community. They also volun
teered to do the dishes which was
very thoughtful.
Lenora Davidson thanked Isa
belle Craig for a job well done as
President.
The new slate of officers for
1990-1991 is as follows: Past
President, Isabelle Craig; Presi
dent, Jean Nethery; 1st Vice,
Isabelle Craig; 2nd Vice, Ida Proc-
Genealogical Society
to tour museum
May 2 the Huron Genealogical
Branch of O.G.S. will have its
meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Huron
County Pioneer Museum and Ar
chives at 110 North St., Goderich.
ter; Secretary-Treasurer, Brenda
Brooks; Public Relations Officers,
Brenda Brooks; Branch Directors,
Isabelle Craig, Mollie Grant, Marie
Button; District Director, Lenora
Davidson; Alternate District Direc
tor, Jean Nethery; Pianist, Ruby
Philip; Auditor, Marilyn Craig;
Program Co-ordinator, Anna Van-
derHeyden; Agriculture and Cana
dian Industries, Marie Button,
Irene Schultz; Family and Con
sumer Affairs, Anna VanderHey-
den, Debbie Craig; Citizenship and
Legislation, Isabelle Craig; Educa
tion and Cultural Activities,
Yvonne Cronyn and Brenda
Brooks; Resolutions, Ida Procter;
Curator, Ella Carter and Jean
Nethery; Catering, Anna Vander-
Heyden, Marie Button, Jean Neth
ery, Isabelle Craig; Cards, Anne
Mclnnes; W.I. drawer and tea
towels, Vera Badley.
May 3, will be the Blyth W.I.’s
80th Anniversary at Memorial Hall
at 8 p.m. Stephen Souch will be
guest speaker.
when it first heard Murphy sing as
“Marjorie” - if you didn’t know
better you would have sworn that
Marjorie was really a woman.
Other performers worthy of note
were Mark Bellamy as Jerry Brad
ford and Michael Rawley as Jack
McLaren.
Despite the existence of several
excellent performers, several of the
actors’ singing voices were weak
and difficult to hear, sometimes
due to the three-piece band which
drowned out the voices.
Costuming by Marie Day was
very realistic and appropriate. At
the end of the play, when the
Dumbells were touring Broadway
and Canada, the costumes were
fantastically colourful and original.
A scene where the dancers were
dressed as half man - half woman
was delightful to watch.
A few stage effects, although
effective, were out of place and
distracting. One scene of the tour
on Broadway involved strobe
lights. It was interesting to watch,
but I wasn’t aware that strobe
lights had been invented by the
twenties. Smoke pots were used in
the opening scene to give a battle
effect. However, this dramatic
effect backfired as the smoke
moved into the audience causing
fits of coughing.
The Legend of the Dumbells is a
very entertaining play. Attention is
held throughout by the lively
music, singing and dancing. How
ever, as far as plot goes, it comes in
little bits between the numerous
songs. The play leans heavily on
the musical aspects of the Dum
bells and little on the actual
Dumbells themselves.
This play is good for family
entertainment, however it should
be noted that there is some
swearing unsuitable for children.
The slapstick antics of the Dum
bells are good for keeping everyone
in stitches throughout the play, and
the old songs bring back a memory
or two for the older members of the
audience. Overall, the evening was
very enjoyable.
Award-winning author Claire
Mackay will be speaking at the
Goderich Branch Library on Thurs
day, April 26, at 2 p.m. in honor of
the National Book Festival. Admis
sion is free and everyone is
welcome to attend.
Claire Mackay is a native of
Toronto who has been a fulltime
writer for young adults and adults
since 1978. Her first novel started
out as a story to please her
11-year-old son. She had no inten
tion of having it published.
After it was finished, she saw an
ad in a magazine and sent her story
in to Scholastic-Tab. Her first
novel, Mini-Bike Hero, was the
result. To her surprise the first
printing sold out in four months,
the fan letters started arriving, and
her writing career began.
Her other novels include One
Proud Summer, based on an histor
ic strike at the textile mills of
Valleyfield, Quebec in 1946; and
The Minerva Program, in which a
Grade 7 student struggles to clear
her name after she is accused of
using the school computer to alter
her grades. Copies of Clair Mac
kay’s books are available at the
library.
PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA
BLYTH INN
eat in or take out
THURS..FRI.,
5P.M.-
523-9381
Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie Information
Playing from Friday to Thursday,
April 20 to 26
Showtimes: Friday and Saturday at
7 and 9 p. m.
Sunday to Thursday-One Show
____ eacheveningat8p.m.
■ a a a a a a a a a a■
Members will tour through the
genealogical research materials
located in the Archives and gain
knowledge of how to use them.
Members will also be taking a
bus trip to the Ontario Archives in
Toronto on May 12. Anyone inter
ested in going, should contact Mrs.
Marie Dillman at 524-4451.
SEAFORTH
HARMONY KINGS
Present Their
8th Annual Spring Show
‘TRUCK STOP’
With Comedy & Barbershop Singing
Saturday, April 28
Seaforth & District Community Centres
Shows at 1:59 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.
MATINEE 86.00 EVENING 87.00
STUDENTS 83.00
CALL 523-9683 or 887-6314
Goderich
HOME & GARDEN
SHOW 1990
Saturday, April 21
Sunday, April 22
1:00 p.m. Jump Rope For Heart
1:45 p.m. Goderich Tai Chi Association
2:30 p.m. Aerobics - Double 0 Fitness
3:00 p.m. Karate - Ron Tyndall
Friday, April 20................ 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday, April 21...........11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sunday, April 22..........12 noon-5 p.m.
Admission Adults 82.00, Students & Seniors 81.00
Children under 12 - Free, with adult
GODERICH ARENA
1:00 p.m. Sue's Kids Kioset - Fashion Show
2:00 p.m. Fashions With Tony & Wendy
3:00 p.m. Cocktails Bridal Boutique
(bridal, prom dresses, tuxedos)
Prizes •Free Entertainment
The Bread Basket •Demonstrations
GODERICH FIGURE SKATING CLUB
(Proceeds to help minor figure skating)
Central Huron S.S. Clinton
ANNUAL SPRING
MUSIC CONCERT
Tuesday, April 24
8:00 p.m.
ADMISSION:
SILVER
COLLECTION
EVERYONE WELCOME