Village Squire, 1979-10, Page 29reworking of the material the play toured
33 communities and sold out in 32 of them.
It was during that tour that the National
Film Board took an interest in the play. A
film crew followed the actors around the
rural areas of Saskatchewan filming bits of
the play and the reaction of the people. The
resulting film has since been seen on
C.B.C. television. Next year the film will
be submitted for nomination for an
Academy Award in Hollywood.
The stack of press clippings the show has
accumulated across the country is massive.
Yet press clippings are about all the
theatre has to show for the spectacular
success of the show. The fact remains that
even hit shows in Canada aren't apt to
make money. The 25th Street House
Theatre is one of those that has a small
enough seating capacity to make it unable
to cover production costs. The theatre can
afford only three full time staff members.
The budget is only about 5100,000 a year.
The theatre was forced to cancel its final
production last year because it lost heavily
when it sponsored the tour of the National
Arts Centre. People in Saskatoon just
didn't want to go see Hamlet the way they
did Paper Wheat or other hit productions of
the little theatre.
The Theatre is getting financial aid from
the Canada Council for the tour but touring
costs are so high (not only transportation
but salaries that are more than doubled to
allow actors to be able to pay for their food
and accommodation) that it's unlikely the
massive tour will do any better than break
even at best.
What the tour does do however is give
people in other parts of Canada the
chance to see a legendary hit show. The
tour will include several stops in Western
Ontario. The first local stop will be at
Talbot Theatre, University of Western
Ontario on Octo ier 12 and 13. It will be in
Blyth at Memorial Hall on Oct. 24 and at
the Humanities Theatre, University of
Waterloo on Nov. 15. There will also be a
matineee at Blyth on October 25 at 1 p.m.
CHANGE IN THEATRE
LONDON LINEUP
The first play of the season hasn't gone
into production yet but already Theatre
London has made a change in its schedule
for the winter. Lion in Winter was to have
been presented but the North American
rights to the play have been withdrawn so
instead Equus will be inserted in the
January slot at the theatre.
Peter Shaeffer's play has become noted
as one of the most gripping plays of the
1970's starring such giants as Richard
Burton. One of the giants of Canadian
Theatre, William Hutt, artistic director of ,
Theatre London will take the pivotal role of
psychiatrist Martin Dysart.
Theatre London will open its season
October 31 with the Alan Ayckbourne
contemporary farce Absurd Person Singu-
lar. It will continue until Nov. 17.
CARE o
for the
children
Millions of children desperately need basic
food, shelter, schooling and health care.
Your help is needed. Send your donation
today.
41. Lv
International' bw
of meO dd S79
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Open every day till 5:30
Friday evening till 9
October 1979, Village Squire 27