Village Squire, 1980-06, Page 19UPDATE
SHAKESPEARE ON TELEVISION
The Stratford Festival is going to take
one of its productions, last season's
successful King Lear, starring Peter Ust-
inov, to a wider audience. The way the
festival plans to attract an audience of
thousands at one swoop is to videotape the
show as a two-hour CBC television special.
The production will be directed by CBC
veteran Normal Campbell. King Lear was
one of the last season's most popular
shows, with Mr. Ustinov in the lead, and
the British actor agreed to repeat the
production this summer.
The only concern in the plan to videotape
the show is that ACTRA may not accept the
casting of two non -Canadians, Peter Ust-
inov and Patricia Connolly. in major roles.
In its campaign to venture into film and
television production to attract wider
audiences, the festival also planned to
produce a movie of the popular The
Importance of Being Earnest. The play by
Oscar Wilde, repeated in a second season
due to its popularity, starred William Hutt
as the imposing Lady Bracknell, Nicholas
Pennell as John Worthing and Domini
Blyth as Gwendolyn. Unfortunately, the
filming of the play has to be postponed
until 1981, since so many of the cast have
made other committments. Domini Blythe
is spending the year with the Royal
Shakespeare Co. in England and William
Hutt will be travelling to England this fall
with four of the festival's other plays.
ENTERTAIN ROYALTY
The Harbouraires , 24 voice male choir
based in Goderich, sang at Hamilton Place
May 31 with Prince Philip in the audience.
Besides performing as part of a mass choir
of 20, they sang solo a medley of three
tunes. Choir director is Lorne Dotterer;
organist is Ed Stiles, and group chairman
Phil Main, all of Goderich.
The performance was one of several
exciting events in the choir's thirty-three
year history, including appearances at
World's Fair in New York City, Massey
Hall and London's Centennial Hall.
The chorus was formed by a group of
veterans after World War II. Two or three
original members still belong; more than
half of the members are affiliated with
Goderich and Clinton Legions. This affilia-
tion resulted in another 'first' for the choir.
On June 7, the Harbouraires recorded -an
album, sponsored by the Legion% at Mercey
Brothers Studio in Elmira. The idea was
conceived by Theresa Dufty of Goderich,
who wrote a song in memory of her father,
and approached the Legion about having a
local choir record it.
In April 1979, zone aproval was given for
a documentary album of 15 authentic tunes
from the war years. Title song is Theresa's
"Precious Men." Albums will be sold only
through the Legion.
Theresa acted as intermediary between
Legion and Harbouraires. She appreciates
the hard work done by the choir, increasing
rehearsals in the past few months from
one -and -a -half hours weekly to five hours
weekly. She is happy with the results.
"The Harbouraires sound good," she
says. "It's hard to believe they're an
amateur choir'.
AMATEURS WANTED
Always wanted a chance to perform in
front of the footlights? Well, the Huron
Country Playhouse in Grand Bend is
offering a rare chance for non -equity talent
to audition for parts in its 1980 summer
productions. The auditions for roles will be
held by the theatre's new artistic director,
Aileen Taylor -Smith.
On June 1, children between the ages of
eight and 12 who want to try musical
theatre can audition for roles in Annie Get
Your Gun, which will run at the theatre
from Aug. 19 to Sept. 6.
The performers are asked to prepare a
short "up-tempo" song for the audition
and bring along their sheet music for the
theatre accompanist. Also, children are
asked to prepare a two -minute piece from a
modern play.
Adults are also invited to audition for a
role in the musical. Their auditions will be
held on June 1 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.. and
while no musical background is required.
the future thespians are asked to prepare a
two. minute piece from a modern play as
well for Miss Taylor -Smith.
THE GREAT CANADIAN POETRY
WEEKEND
What do Margaret Atwood, John Robert
Columbo, Dennis Lee , Dorothy Livesay
and Al Purdy have in common? Well, not
only that they're all poets, but also that
they'll be guests at the fifth annual Great
Canadian Poetry weekend held in
Collingwood on June 6, 7 and 8.
This year, the five poets already
mentioned and 15 other Canadian poets
will gather in an informal resort setting at
the foot of the Blue Mountain to talk
poetry. Both professional poets, amateur
N riters and poetry lovers are invited to
gather at the resort for a series of poetry
readings, workshops, a writers' retreat and
informal visits with the poets. One special
attraction this summer will be the reading
of a new comedy all about poets and poetry
readings. Anyone attending the Great
Canadian Poetry Weekend will stay at local
resorts and eat with the poets and other
guests at the Blue Mountain Youth Hostel.
The weekend offers both an opportunity to
hear many of Canada's poets reading their
recent works, and to talk about the state of
poetry in general with some of the poets
during the "mountain exchange." Anyone
wanting to know more about the weekend
can phone 705-445-3430.
RURAL ROOTS
Last year more than 15,000 people
recalled their rural roots with a visit to the
Ontario Agricultural Museum, which is 5
km. west of Milton.
The museum includes a number of
historic homes and farm buildings, some of
which have been moved from around the
province and reconstructed on the site.
Through private donations, loans and
purchases the museum has collected more
than 17,000 artifacts, including 125
tractors.
Bob Carbert, the general manager of the
museum, said one of the major themes is to
reconstruct farmsteads which represent
different periods in Ontario rural history.
An 1830 log cabin for example is already
open, and an 1860 farmhouse has been
completely restored and furnished and will
be open this summer.
A highlight of the museum for many
visitors is the Crossroads community, a
typical rural community at the turn of the
century. Recent additions to this com-
munity this summer include an early 19005
farm machinery dealership, a historical
display showing the evolution of the
Massey Harris company and an operating
shingle mill. A church, originally built in
1876 in the Listowel area, will also open
this summer. Other buildings at the
crossroads include the Women's Institute
Hall and the blacksmith's shop.
The agricultural museum attempts to
bring the past to life with demonstrations
of blacksmith's techniques, weaving,
spinning, dyeing and a cropping and
livestock program.
Younger .visitors are particularly fond of
the tractor -pulled wagon rides around the
grounds. Admission prices at the museum,
in its second year of operation, are $1.50
for adults, SI. for seniors and students am;
75 cents for children. Family admission is
54 per family.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/JUNE 1980 PG. 17