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The Citizen, 1989-07-12, Page 21PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1989. Entertainment ‘The Dreamland’ recalls dance hall days Robert Clinton and Carol Sinclair are two of the actors in Bryan Wade’s ‘The Right One’, which is being performed at Blyth Festival this season. Here, Sinclair, as Birdie, is reading Clinton’s (who playsthegroom’sbrother, Michael)palm whilethey waitfor the ill-fated wedding tocommence. She explains to him that he is not the happy man he thinks he is. “Dreamland. Where there was always dancing. You’d cut the motor and when the outboard coughed and quit, you’d sit and the music from the band would float on the water - ducking and bobbing on the surface - as you drift into dock . ... At the Dreamland”. The words of author Raymond Storey and music by John Roby give you a glimpse into the golden age of the thirties. This team brought theatre go-ers the popular musical Country Hearts and the award winning “Girls in the Gang”. Featuring a cast of 33 people, “The Dreamland” is the biggest musical to premiere at the Blyth Festival in its 15-year history. It is directed by Richard Rose, choreographed by Susan MacKen- zie with costume and set designs by Charlotte Dean. Due to the size of this block­ buster musical production several “Dreamland patrons” from the Blyth area have been added to the cast. They are Evelyn Demaray, Jerry Cassidy, Betty Kennedy, Sheron Stadelmann, Bev Irving, and Laura McDonald. Dance halls peppered cottage country in the big band era with bands of all sizes playing in dance pavillions close to Blyth; Wonder­ land in London, the Pav in Bay­ field, the Pav in Goderich, and in Grand Bend, Port Elgin, Kincar- dftie, Port .Dover, Port Stanley to name a few. Many dance halls had their own resident bands through­ out the summer months with names like Red Ruhl and his Rulers of Rhythm, a popular Bayfield band of the thirties. Each month had its own favourite dance crazes, and these will be featured in The Dreamland. The production which opens July 26 is so large that the front two rows of seats will be covered by the dance hall set. A good selection of tickets is still available. For infor­ mation call the Box Office at 523-9300/9225. Ethel Threatre review Congratulations to grandparents Congratulations to first-time grandparents Doug and Jean Evans on the birth of their new grandson. Sixteen Ethel Women’s Institute ladies and friends attended the Blyth Festival to see the opening of “The Right One”. ‘The Right One’ the right one to pick BY BONNIE GROPP If Bryan Wade’s ‘The Right One’ is the only play you plan to attend at Blyth this season, and if you’re looking forward to a play that is good fun, then you’re going to the right one. The play, which pre­ miered in Blyth on July 5, gives us a light hearted look at the perils and pitfalls of relationships, pre­ nuptial jitters, and wedding days. Phillip and Lisa’s big day has arrived and Phillip is beset by last-minute jitters. While he and his best man Carl are waiting Tor Lisa’s arrival at the church, Phillip ponders whether Lisa is the right girl for him. What he is unaware of is that the lady in question is being held hostage by her ex-boyfriend, Danny, who believes that she is his right one. Lisa eventually makes her escape only to discover that Phillip has disappeared from the church. He and his amigo, Carl, have gone to find the wedding ring that Carl gave to a girl the previous Young actors show plays on Friday This summer the Blyth Festival offered its Youth Workshops once again, and the group involving children from five to 12 years of age will conclude this Friday with a performance of their own creations. Featured plays include: The Pet’s Adventure, Space Worms’ Vacation to Earth, The Sunsters, The Gang at the Beach, The Queen from Outer Space, The Adventures of the Prince, The Punishment, Once Upon a Flower, The Ugly Thing, and The Pizza Theft. Performances begin Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. and conclude by 12 noon. There is no charge. All of the plays feature hand­ crafted puppets and will take place in the Blue Room at the comer of Queen and Dinsley Streets. This is above the Blyth Festival offices and the entrance is located on Dinsley Street. evening while in a drunken stupor. What follows is a thoughtful, often hilarious, exploration of commit­ ment and compromise. What director John Cooper has effectively shown us is that this is a play about real people and situa­ tions. As I watched the story unfold, I was reminded of wedding days that I have been involved in over the years. The nervousness, the confusion, the disasters are all part and parcel of everyone’s planned nuptials it seems. The family confrontations, the disputes and interferences are all too fami­ liar. The characters in this play are humans with human flaws and weaknesses. They remind us of ourselves and of people we know. The groom Phillip is a solid, affable man and Robert McClure’s portrayal of him has humour and passion which prevents the charac­ ter from becoming boring. Laurel Paetz’s Lisa became more interesting as the play progressed. She gives a good performance as a Heather Morton, a student of F. E. Madill, who has long been associated with the workshops, was Youth Workshop Co-ordinator this summer. She had 20 children participate in the morning sessions while 13 were involved in the afternoon sessions. In addition to local youngsters, there were children involved from Goderich, Teeswater, Vanastra, Clinton, Londesboro, Wingham and Belgrave. and FOR ISABEL MCWHIRTER ; & BRIAN WHITE Friday, July 14th Dancing 9-1 B. M.&G. Centre Music by D.J. young lady ready to take the big plunge, but we sense the wistful­ ness as she is reminded of the carefree, ebullient Danny. Best man Carl is the antithesis of Phillip - a supercilious womanizer. Played zealously by the attractive Kerry Dorey, he is every girl’s fantasy and every parent’s night­ mare. Denise Kennedy as Lisa’s sister, Louise, is endearing. She has exuberance and a naivete that contrasts nicely with the more mature Lisa. Robert Clinton is Phillip’s pom­ pous brother Michael, a marvelous­ ly funny pain in the neck. However, in addition to appearing as a rather comic, shallow individual, we get a glimpse of his frustration as he vehemently denies his unhappi­ ness. Carol Sinclair is Birdie, an interesting caricature who provides the comic relief at the right times. My personal favourite, though is Peter Smith as Danny, whose boyish charm is so appealing you can almost forgive his irresponsible and immature behaviour. Danny we recognize as the guy that most girls will date until they realize they want a more stable relation­ ship. That’s when they discover that men like Danny are no longer the right one for them. Mr. Smith has a natural comedic flair and excellent comic timing and though his role is fairly small, he leaves a lasting impression. The set design was imaginative and innovative, incorporating four different scenes on the stage during the first half. Another particular high spot for me was the creative use of Beatles’ music. The familiar lyrics and tunes were strategically intersper­ sed throughout the play providing further- amusement and artistic enhancement. While some of the humour in the dialogue did fall flat, most of the one-liners delivered hit so close to home you couldn’t help but chuck­ le. ‘The Right One’ may not be hiliariously funny, but it is a thoughtful, entertaining produc­ tion. I left the theatre feeling like I’d had a really good time. NOTICE East Wawanosh Township Office closed July 17 to 21 Becky Earl has returned home after visiting with friends and relatives in Owen Sound and Sudbury. Natasha Haggittof Zurich OneYearOld on July 14 Hugs & Kisses from Grandma & Grandpa Gwyn 'Zfafzfacj, SOtfa MARTIN & CATHERINE BAAN Love, The Family The family invites you toan Anniversary Tea 2-5 p.m. at the Brussels Mennonite Fellowship July 16,1989 Best Wishes Only Please