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The Citizen, 1990-06-13, Page 26PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1990. Entertainment Van Camp family holds family reunion Theatre review Musical meets expectations The annual Van Camp family picnic was held on Sunday after­ noon, June 10 at the Glencoe ball park, hosted by Mrs. Norma David­ son with 41 in attendance. The highlight of the afternoon was a bridal shower in honour of Johanna Van Camp. Entertainment was provided by Gary, Marie and Krista Black, Nancy Jardin and Colleen Van Camp doing several dance numbers. BY BONNIE GROPP There is an enduring quality to the American musical that has enchanted and entertained audi­ ences from the golden era when they began until today. Thus, when I went to Stratford to see “Guys and Dolls”, I went with great expectations and pretty much got what I expected. I expected flaws; there were some. I expected to be amused; I was. My overall, distinct impres­ sion was of a slick, fast-paced production with memorable charac­ ters and strong performances. “Guys and Dolls” is based on the characters in the short stories of Damon Runyon, an assortment of high rollers, low lifes and the dolls that love them. Broadway producers Cy Feuer and Ernie Martin selected “The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown” from Runyon’s works in 1948 because of the romance between Salvation Army- esque Sarah and gambler Sky Masterson. They filled it out with other characters from Runyon’s book to further develop the plot and Frank Loesser was hired to write the music and lyrics while Abe Burrows replaced Joe Swerling to write the book. The finished pro­ duct is an interesting blend of the original author’s unique style known as “Runyonese” and the wit of Burrows and Loesser. One of the characters to come forward in the book is that of Nathan Detroit, played in the Stratford production by Alan Jor­ dan. Detroit is a huckster, who runs a floating crap game and in Burrows adaptation has gained a fiancee of 14 years, Miss Adelaide, a dancer at The Hot Box. With a voice that grinds somewhere bet­ ween Pee Wee Herman and Betty Boop, Karen K. Edissi’s Adelaide is a slightly ditzy, marvelously funny portrayal. While I found her voice inflection a little grating, when she sings it is in a clear, confident lovely-to-listen-to con­ tralto. She has an excellent sense of comedic timing. The romance between Sarah and Sky begins as part of a bet. To make an easy thousand bucks, Detroit suggests that there is one doll Sky could never get to go to Havana with him. When he points out Sarah Brown of the Save-a-Soul Mission, Sky knows she’s been had. However, he manages to win What a Guy Nathan Detroit, played by Alan Jordan promises the stars and, someday, marriage to his fiancee of 14 years Miss Adelaide, played by Karen K. Edissi in this scene from Stratford Festival’s “Guys and Dolls”. Detroit is a guy who makes a living by arranging floating crap games, and Adelaide is his doll, a dancer at The Hot Box. Detroit has never found the money or the courage to actually marry her. Bobbi-Jo’s Truck Stop HIGHWAY #4 SOUTH OF WINGHAM ..^1 1 ........................ ......... Mon.-Sat, 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday 8 - 8 p.m. Opening June 11 with a Grand Opening on June 15, 1990 Come join us for cake & coffee 357-1058 | the bet, by promising to deliver 12 sinners to the mission if Sarah will go with him. Sarah’s transformation in Havana from pristine prude to coy cutie amid the flamboyant Cubans is one of the many visually exciting sequences. Marie Baron as Sarah displays versatility and range. She has a vibrant soprano voice that is at its best when she sings a ballad. She received her musical training at Toronto’s Royal Conservatory and the University of Toronto’s Opera Department and has de­ veloped a voice that is refined, yet, passionate. Sky Masterson is played charm­ ingly by Scott Wentworth. Self-as­ sured and fast-talking, Masterson is the ideal romantic hero, oozing charisma, yet just a little bad. Wentworth seems to fit very com­ fortably with the persona. The entire cast of Guys and Dolls, wore their characters like Gucci shoes. They fit confidently and easily into the roles. The choreography was innovative, the production classy. Add that to a fun story, brilliant score and timely humour and there are few things that disappoint at first glance. Perhaps, I could have looked harder, but why bother. Play began with suggestion “Over two years ago, I received a letter from one of our audience members suggesting that the life of Jessie L. Beattie might make an interesting play” says Katherine Kaszas, Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival. “Beattie was a well respected psychotherapist from the Hamilton area who worked in the thirties at the Ontario Training School near Guelph. A true pioneering social worker, Beattie used theatre as a tool to work with patients - by writing plays and stories, it helped them to work out problems from their past. “I passed this story idea and letter on to Laurie Fyffe who I had commissioned to write a new play. Laurie brought a first draft of the play to our writers workshop in the Summer of 1988 which followed the life of Beatty and her students. Through many revisions, “A Field of Flowers” has changed its focus and dropped the biographical facts of Beattie’s life and centers on two imaginary young women who pass­ ed through the Ontario Training School.” An unwed mother, a box of stones, a spiteful headmistress and a wisecracking drifter - these are all the clues in the mystery surround­ ing the disappearance of a babe in arms - Laurie Fyffe’s newest play, “A Field of Flowers” which pre­ mieres at the Blyth Festival on June 20th. Exclusively sponsored by Knechtel Stores and Ultra Pampers Plus, “A Field of Flow­ ers” begins with the story of Alice Staples who has vanished. As Arthur Staples searches for his missing teenage daughter with police and social workers hot on his heels, we are embroiled in a web of mystery and deceit. After months of waiting, Laurie Fyffe finally gained access to case history files of young women confined to Ontario Training Schools during the 1930’s, at the Archives of Ontario “These per­ sonal accounts relayed through court transcripts, medical reports, letters and the cryptic comments of teachers and supervisors, gave me glimpses of a world I found both fascinating and sad”, says Fyffe. Actress and playwright, Laurie Fyffe has written plays for adults and children including “Bush Fire”, “A Political Affair,” and “The Ivy Room”. The Blyth Festival’s new play development programme is its most important offshoot. The play­ wrights’ workshops provide Cana­ dian writers with the opportunity to work with professional actors and directors to create the best piece of Continued on page 27 $ t Y * # Rutabaga Festival PARADE ENTRY FORM Name of Organization............................................. Address................................................................ Town.,..............................Phone.......................... Contact Person.................................................. For the purposes of identifying floats and giving you the best recognition at the parade, please fill out the following information: Typeof Entry-Float... Marching Unit... Individual... Other... Number of Participants............. Sponsoring Organization................................................................. Nameof Business Owner................ Year Business Began .... Typeof Business............................Number of Staff..................... Details About Your Business [history, etc.].................................. Note: Rutabagas for decorating your float or entry are now available at the Blyth Municipal Office. Please return this form to Dave Williams, Rutabaga Festival, Box 393, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1H0or dropoff at the Citizen Office in Blyth or Brussels by Monday, June 18, 1990. COOKING CONTEST ENTRY FORMS AREAVAILABLE AT BLYTH MUNICIPAL OFFICES, RADFORD’S, THE CITIZEN AND SCRIMGEOUR’S FOOD MARKET.