Village Squire, 1978-08, Page 28THEATRE
Susan Tigert, Kevin Bundy, Beth Morrison and David St. Jean of the Summerhouse One project act
out a song.
Goderich blooms
with theatre
enthusiasts
Ply. 26. VILLAGE SQUIRE/AUGUST 1978.
BY FRANCES BARRICK
Goderich doubled its entertainment fare
for theatre goers this summer, with
outdoor plays performed by two amateur
theatre groups.
This is the first year for both the
Goderich Little Theatre's summer theatre,
and Summerhouse One, a group of seven
young local actors who present off-the-cuff
theatre depicting Goderich and its people
at the Court House park Mondays at noon.
Like Summerhouse One, Theatre Sum-
mer '78 also attracted young local actors
between the ages of 10 to 22.
For six weeks from early July to Aug. 11,
this summer theatre group performs a
different play each week, usually a comedy
or light drama. An evening's entertain-
ment lasts an hour, with either two short
plays or musical entertainment before the
evening's play.
Outdoor performances are held Wednes-
day and Thursday evenings in the small
courtyard at the historic Huron Gaol.
Wooden benches serve as a temporary
seating arrangement. Friday evenings the
group performs in a renovated barn at
Point Farms Provincial Park.
Co-ordinator Anna Melski said the
purpose of the summer performances was
to get young people involved in theatre and
to raise money for the Goderich Little
Theatre.
She said the first purpose succeeded, for
about 30 young local people, three-quart-
ers of them had never been on stage
before, got involved for the first time with
Goderich's amateur theatre group. These
young participants are now welcome to
take part in any of the regular season
plays.
Since the summer plays were selected
with young actors in mind, each participant
had an opportunity to act on stage. Anna
said when the teenagers were not involved
with a play, they attended workshops, and
worked backstage learning "all the ins and
outs of the theatre."
By the end of July, with four plays
performed, the group raised with a dollar
admission charge about $200. This money
along with proceeds from a dance and
variety show to be held Aug. 27 at the
Goderich high school, will go towards the
eventual construction of the group's own
theatre. The Goderich Little Theatre now
uses MacKay Hall for its regular season.
"The ultimate goal of the summer
theatre, dance and variety show is to raise
money for the Goderich Little Theatre,"
she said.
Anna said the group began the summer