The Citizen, 1989-06-14, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, 1989. PAGE 7.
Hall’s rededication gets Festival off to big start
Continued from page 5
upset people.
Opening night included one of
those genius ideas that helped
build the Festival to what it is
today. Between James Roy and
Larry Walsh, the village clerk, they
cooked up an idea to hold a
rededication of Memorial Hall (now
with its new roof) in connection
with the opening of the new
theatre. It ensured there was a
sellout of 400 people in the audi
ence that first night. When people
liked what they saw, the little
theatre was on its way. Word of
mouth did the rest.
There were times in the early
years when word of mouth was not
so beneficial. There were the
rumours that spread about the
character of the actors. That first
season the entire acting crew
stayed in one house, each with his
own room. With one female and
five males, there was room for
imagination on the part of gossips.
Another year I remember a dis
turbed board member telling me
the rumours that were going
around that actresses staying at the
hotel were operating a “key club’’.
But the good side of small town
people showed up more often than
the bad. By the time the first
production was ready to debut
there was a steady stream of
home-baked pies arriving for the
actors as local women worried they
weren't eating well enough. There
were invitations to lunches and to
tea. People in general opened their
arms and hearts to the newcomers.
There was a reception after that
first, sweltering performance of
“Mostly in Clover’’ and there was
an electricity in the air that told you
this was the start of something big.
How much bigger came to those
of us on the board of directors the
next spring when James proposed
to take the budget to $40,000, four
times the budget of the first year.
He wanted the company to be fully
professional and use union actors.
It took all the faith in him that had
been built up over that first year for
the board of directors to go ahead
with the suggestion. Today it’s one
of those clear turning points you
can look back on and see as a sign
post on the way to today’s success.
The next few years were hard
scratching as the Festival’s high
standards raced against its meagre
means but only once was there a
deficit at the end of the year.
Another of the turning points
took place during those years. I
remember someone saying to me
that if we hoped to ever build
something with the Festival, we
needed air conditioning. One of the
hardest decisions ever made by the
early board of directors was the
decision to undertake a study to
install airconditioning. Obviously
looking back now it’s impossible to
imagine the success of the theatre
if air conditioning hadn’t been
installed.
store sets when they weren’t used
on stage. Late in 1979 the board
decided to go ahead.
It was a brave decision since
every board member had to sign a
staggering loan guarantee at the
bank. It took several years of hard
work for the board to finally
dispose of that debt. Now a new
board has taken on an even bigger
challenge to complete a $1.8 mil
lion expansion of Festival facilities,
including more space in Memorial
Hall.
Surprisingly, thinking back to
those dreaming days 15 seasons
ago on the steps of Memorial Hall,
many of the things accomplished at
the Festival don’t seem so far
fetched. What is amazing to a small
town boy, however, is the impor
tance with which this theatre has
come to be regarded across Cana
da. People travel to Blyth from the
U.S. and across Canada to see the
new plays. Government’s have
pitched in with grants that would
stagger the imaginations of those
of us who thought the initial $2,000
James Roy talked the Ontario Arts
Council into giving us in 1975 was
an immense amount. The Lieuten
ant Governor is coming to open this
15th season. In that, our imagina
tions couldn’t fly as high as reality
proved to be.
an addition with proper dressing
rooms and somewhere backstage to
PAUL RAYMOND FEAR
Paul Raymond Fear graduated
from Ridgetown College of
Agricultural Technology on May
19 with a livestock major. He is
the son of Wayne and Monica
Fear, RR 4, Brussels. Paul is
presently employed by Ecker
Lea Acres, RR 1, Seaforth.
No ordinary dummy
Debbie Trollope and friend receive a donation from Brussels
Optimist President Don Crawford on behalf of the St. John
Ambulance. The money is going toward the purchase or
Resusci Jr. who will be used at the pool this summer to instruct
the children in proper C.P.R. technique.
Is your hair damaged from...
-summer sun -old perms and colours
-chlorine from pools -blowdrying and curling irons
-harsh drying winds
INTRODUCING
INDEPTH HAIR TREATMENTS
formulated to your hair problems
ALSO
our new perm by Zotos
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER
Hair Treatment - $4.00 [Regularly $8.00]
Permanent Wave - $30.00 [Regularly $35.00]
Offer available until June 30, 1989
In-Salon Pricing:
Hair Cuts - starting at $5.00 Perms - $27.50 and $35.00
Set or Blowdry - starting at $5.00 Tints - $18.00
MEAT DEPARTMENT
BRUCE
PRICES IN EFFECT UNTIL CLOSING SAT., JUNE 17/89
SCHNEIDERS
BEEF 454 G
STEAKETTES PKG.
y J;
---1 V J L
x V 1
PACKERS
'1*4
% Pound
Beef
Patties
1 lb.
FROZEN GRADE 'A'
DUCKS 99
FRESH - CENTRE CUT
PORK LOIN „ o yinSTEAKS °'1L O.4y,h
STOREMADE - REGULAR OR GARLIC
FARMERS -nus < nnSAUSAGE I.OiJib
SCHNEIDER'S - JUMBO
~ deli SLICED
back A QQ
BACON ib.
BY THE PIECE
4.69 lb.
.SEE THIS WEEK'S FLYER FOR MORE MONEY SAVING SPECIALS .... I
i. y