Village Squire, 1978-05, Page 40was abroad, hearing from friends in the
theatre, reading reviews, reading plays
that were ptiblished. Since coming back
he's travelled as far as Edmonton to see
Canadian productions and isa frequent
visitor to Toronto theatres. He has to be on
top of the Canadian theatre scene more
than anyone else of course since Third
Stage has a heavy comr►ittment to
Canadian writers and directors. This year,
for instance, the Third Stage will play host
to Larry Fineberg's Medea. Sheldon
Rosen's Ned and Jack and Stargazing by
Tom Cone, a play commissioned for the
Third Stage, as well as four short pieces by
international giant Samuel Beckett. Mr.
Moss will direct Ned and Jack himself
while two other well known Canadian
directors, John Palmer and Pamela
Hawthorn will direct Medea and Stargaz-
ing respectively. The Beckett plays will be
directed by such well-known personalities
as Ted Follows for Footfalls, Urjo Kareda
for Come and Go and Alan Scarfe for Not I.
The fourth play, From and Abandoned
Work will be directed by Mr. Moss
himself.
Third Stage is literally a barn of a place,
Mr. Moss says. Leased from the city,
everything in it has to be trucked in by the
Festival, stage, seats, sets, everything.
The company cannot rehearse there, but
must find church basements or other
facilities. Udlike the Festival and Avon
theatres, comfort for the patrons is not so
easily guaranteed either. The place can't
be airconditioned, for instance.
Things will change in the future for
Third Stage. A small theatre of about the
same size (Third Stage seats 350 persons)
is planned as part of the new Stage One
complex which will include a theatre school
and eventually a television studio for
production of classical works for television.
There has been some criticism of the
Third Stage operation by outsiders saying
that the Festival is simply mounting
Canadian works in the same impoverished
circumstances as the warehouse or
alternative theatres across the country who
simply can't afford to do better. Mr. Moss
agrees and disagrees with this statement.
Sets and costumes will not be as
magnificient as those on the two larger
stages, he says, because they would lessen
the theatrical value of the shows given the
circumstances under which they are
performed. The costumes could overwhelm
the production in the Third Stage
surroundings.
However, he says, the use of such big
name talent as Alan Scarfe, Douglas Rain,
Jack Weatherall and Mary Savidge is
something that Canadian plays couldn't
get at any of the small alternate theatres,d
he says. It is of far more benefit for a young
writer or director to know he can have this
kind of talent at his disposal than to have
lavish sets.
Third Stage, Mr. Moss says, is a chance
to help develop new talents, whether they
be writers, directors or actors. Writers, for
instance, who suddenly are working with
talented actors used to dialogue the quality
of Shakespeare's, are challenged to come
up with improved dialogue. Third Stage
offers writers the chanrP to create big roles
PG. 38. VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1978.
Bride's
and
Bridesmaid's
Dresses
by Diana
Diana Scott does
custom sewing from her
own house in Goderich.
whether it's formal or casual,
• Diana will make it -- _
beautifully.
84 Waterloo St. S.
Goderich, 524-9394
Please call for appointment.
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