Village Squire, 1974-01, Page 23What's going on
HURON COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE WILL
OPEN ON JUNE 26
Dates for the 1974 summer season at the
Huron Country Playhouse were announced
recently by Playhouse Manager, James
Murphy. The Grand Bend resort theatre
will open its third season on Wednesday,
J une 26, two weeks earlier than in previous
years. As usual a new play will be
presented each week for the eight-week
season, and each will open on Wednesday
and will run for the remainder of the week.
Although no plays are set yet, the season
will include Broadway and West End hit
comedies and musicals, and may include
the premiere of a new Canadian comedy.
The 1974 FESTIVAL OF SUMMER
THEATRE will again be presented in a
large theatre tent situated at the Playhouse
farm site location on the Stephen B Line,
one mile from Highway 83, just two miles
from the Village of Grand Bend.
LIGHT OPERA FOR AVON THEATRE THIS
SUMMER...
The delightfully effervescent comic opera
La Vie Parisienne will hold the stage at the
Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre this
summer.
Opening June 27, Offenbach's gay and
lyrical portrayal of Paris in the 1880's will be
directed by Festival Artistic Director Jean
Gascon, with costume design by Francois
Barbeau and sets by Robert Prevost.
Stratford's recently appointed Music Director
Raffi Armenian will act as music director and
conductor for the production. A new
translation into English has been commiss-
ioned and will be adapted for the stage by
Canadian playwright Jeremy Gibson, whose
recent Festival involvement includes textual
editing on Pericles last season .and
Lorenzaccio in 1972.
This will be Mr. Barbeau's first Festival
assignment. A highly accomplished Canadian
designer, he has been associated with such
companies as the Theatre du Nouveau Monde
and the Rideau Vert and is head of design at
the National Theatre School in Montreal.
Designer Prevost is no stranger to the
Festival, having last worked with Jean
Gascon on The Threepenny Opera in 1972. He
has also designed Tartuffe and Mozart's Don
Giovanni, among other Festival productions
dating back to his first assignment in 1956.
Mr. Armenian has conducted both the
Atlantic Symphony and Canadian Opera
Company orchestras and is at present musical
director and conductor of the Kitchener -Wat-
erloo Symphony orchestra.
The production will play through July and
August, closing August 31.
This marks the second staging- of the
Offenback work for Mr. Gascon. His first was
a highly praised CBC -television production.
Often called the "Mozart of the
Champs -Elysees", Jacques Offenbach start-
ed life as the son of a German cantor and went
on to become the idol of 19th century Paris.
His legacy of 100 light operas, musical satires
and farces included such ever -popular works
as Orpheus in the Underworld, La Belle
Helene and Barbe-Bleue and his one serious
opera, The Tales of Hoffman, is firmly
established in the repertoire of leading opera
companies throughout the musical world. The
libretti for 'many of Offenbach's light operas -
including La Vie Parisienne - were provided
by Meilhac and Halevy, French dramatists of
the day whose work epitomizes the witty and
slightly cynical spirit of the Second Empire.
Described as a composer gifted with
"verve, spontaneity, wit and a ready flow of
lovable melodies, "Offenbach concocted
light, charming musical confections that
continue to delight today's audiences as they
did theatre -goers of his own age. La Vie
Parisienne combines the hilarious situations
of farce - with its mistaken identities,
disguises and hectic pacing - with sumptuous
spectacle and beautiful music. The result is a
gay excursion into an improbable, light-heart-
ed world where bored, rich Bourgeois can
arrange gala balls and banquets at the drop of
a fan to deceive gullible husbands and win the
favours of lovely ladies. It is light at its most
joyful, by the master of the genre.
Casting for the production will be
announced at a later date.
WHAT'S GOING ON...
ART:
GREEN GALLERY features the work of
Goderich artist J im Marlatt and is located
on Patrick Street in Goderich. Mr. Marlatt
was featured last year in an article in the
Village Squire and is well-known for his
sketches that are on sale at many places in
the Huron -Perth area.
THE HEIM GALLERY north of Wingham
welcomes visitors year-round. Located
north of Wingham on the first concession
off Highway 4 to the right, the gallery
features continuous showings of various
Ontario professional artists. While the
paintings are on sale, those not interested i
in buying are still welcomed to come and
browse.
SPECIALS...
WINTER CARNIVAL: It's winter carnival
time in Western Ontario with nearly every
community having a winter bash. Some,
like Seaforth, have already had theirs, but
others, such as Clinton, are still coming up.
The Clinton Carnival goes from Feb. 1-10.
Keep watching your local newspaper for
other winter fun events.
MOVIES:
WALKING TALL: It isn't the kind of movie
that is noted for its big stars but the
producers at least think it compares
favourably with Billy Jack, a quiet film with
a big impact. --Lyceum, Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.
ROMEO AND JULIET: Originally made in
1968, this film by Franco Zeffirelli brings
an new version of the ciassic tale by
Shakespeare. And Shakespeare was never
like this with enough spice to rate an adult
entertainment sticker. --Park, Jan. 27-29.
INSTINCT FOR SURVIVAL: Another of
those Sun International productions about
life in the wild. It comes complete with
huge advertising campaign but not much
real insight into the movie itself. --Park,
Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 1 and 2; Lyceum, Feb. 3
CHARLIE VARRICK: If you're a Walter
Mathau fan you're in luck with another
show of his an the screen. Canadian actor
John Vernon (Wojeck) also stars it this
action movie. --Park, Feb. 3-5.
BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY: Michael
Moriarty and Robert De Niro star in this
movie directed by John Hancock. --Park,
Feb. 10-12.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: Some love
it. Some hate it but the movie has been a
big success anyway. Canadian Norman
Jewson directs, Te j Neely as Jesus in the
last seven days of his life in a mod tempo.
--Park, Feb. 13-16.
Music
to
listen
tc
MUSIC TO LISTEN TO...
WITH CARMAN SEATON
Remember the "old days" when music was
music and one didn't have to stand by ones
self and contort with a blank expression?
We were able to snuggle and cuddle
without appearing to be too bold and feel the
thrill of body contact. What happy days and
what memories were stored for the future, be
it romantic or hilarious. You remember them,
the wolf that squeezed too tight and the jerk
with the two left feet that had you working to
figure out his next move. Finally, the
"Dreamboat" and you two glided across that
floor like it was a movie set.
Yes, the past is treasured and you stare in
disbelief at the new dancers. How can the
youn,., enjoy such sexless grimaces and
monstrous noises from the so-called bands?
What kind of reminiscing will they look
forward to?
After years of total rejection of modern
music I have started to listen and I hear
something after the faddish twanging and
banging fades, your ear catches love songs
and stirring messages that are not really
adjusted to your wave length.
This pattern of rhythm is not meant for us,
we have had our magic day of youth and each
generation has their own secrets and styles
Watch a young couple on a dance floor,
doing what ever it is they do and you can
catch that special expression in her eyes,
meaning he's "the One". His manner whould
never impress us but he's got her buffaloed
just like we used to be.
So let the noises blast forth, I'm content
now. The unique sorcery of dancing is not
dead and Music by any racket still "hath
charms".
VILLAGE SQUIRE/ JANUARY 1974, 23