Village Squire, 1979-06, Page 11BY ELAINE TOWNSHEND
The Huron Country Playhouse has come a long way since its
pioneer season in 1972, which took place in a rented tent on an
abandoned farm three and a half miles east of Grand Bend. With
help from a Federal L.I.P. Grant, renovations began in 1973, and
by 1975, a large barn -style theatre replaced the tent.
Because of the enthusiasm of the people involved and the
generous support of surrounding communities, the Playhouse
has been able to grow and -to present quality productions each
year. Huron Country Playhouse, third largest summer festival in
Ontario behind the Shakespearean and Shaw Festivals, is
well-known to the Canadian theatrical community.
One thing that has not changed during eight years of operation
is the Playhouse artistic policy: the presentation of popular
classics featuring national and international stars, and 1979
promises more top quality theatre entertainment.
The opening production will be the British farce, Pool's
Paradise by Philip King. A sequel to See How They Run, Pool's
Paradise is filled with slapstick high jinks that keep audiences
roaring with laughter. The production will run from June 27 to
July 7.
Next will be a suspense thriller -Angel Street by Patrick
Hamilton, author of Rope and Hangover Square. In 1943, the
play was turned into a film called Gaslight, which starred
Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. Set in London in 1880, Angel
Street is expected to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
The second production opens on July 11 and runs to July 21.
Harvey. a Pulitzer prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase, will
occupy the theatre from July 25 until August 4. This beloved
comedy concerns Elwood P. Dowd and his friend, Harvey, a
six -and -a -half foot tall white rabbit. The play has been made into
a Hollywood motion picture and a television special. both
starring the venerable James Stewart. .
From August 8 to August 18. The Owl and The Pussycat, Bill
Manhoff's smash Broadway play which starred Alan Alda and
the late Diane Sands. will be presented. The play, which was also
made into a film. takes a human and humorous view of the
age-old battle of the sexes.
The final production of the Playhouse 79 summer season will
be The Sound of Music -- one of the most popular musicals of all
time. Music and lyrics are by Rodgers and Hammerstein; novel
by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. This heartwarming
musical relates the struggles of the indomitable Trapp family
during the tyranny of Nazism.
Some local talent will appear in The Sound of Music. Auditions
were held in London, Goderich and Grand Bend during April to
fill the roles of the seven Trapp children. Rehearsals for the
upcoming season begin on June 11.
Besides the five major productions. the Playhouse offers other
attractions. A mini-series of three Canadian films is scheduled
for July 1. July 15 and August 12 - Sunday evenings on which the
theatre is dark.
Children's productions will also be featured. A Canada Works
Project entitled Huron Country Playhouse Youth Training
Program is providing jobs for five Huron Students from May 7 to
September 1. The young people will present a continuing
program of creative dramatics for area children culminating in a
children's show produced by the children. Beauty and The Beast
will be the first presentation on June 16 and 17 with a children's
workshop to follow each performance.
The Playhouse staff began to grow in the early spring in
preparation for another busy summer season. In May, four
young men and women were hired under the Ontario Career
Action Program (OCAP) to fill demanding positions in Playhouse
Box Office,administrative. technical and publicity departments.
Mr. Len Evans: director of the program, described OCAP.
which is funded by the Ontario government. as a program to give
on-the-job training to young Ontarians in their chosen fields. Mr.
James Murphy. Playhouse Artistic Director and General
Manager. added that the young people "will have the
opportunity to learn every aspect of a professional theatre season
from the earliest preparations to the last closing night.
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June 1979, Village Squire 9