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The Citizen, 1989-09-06, Page 23Entertainment THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1989. PAGE 23. ‘Guthrie on Guthrie’ presented at Stratford Special moment For four performances only, the Stratford Festival will present “Guthrie on Guthrie’’, a humorous one-man show focusring on the giant of theatre, Tyrone Guthrie, and his role in the creation the Festival. It will be presented at the Festival’s Third Stage September 6 and 12 at 8 p.m. and September 9 and 10 at 2 p.m. Margaret Dale’s “Guthrie On Guthrie’’ is freely adapted from “A Life in the Theatre’’ by Tyrone Guthrie and stars respected Cana­ dian actor Colin Fox. It uses Guthrie’s own words and traces the experiences that shaped the ideas of the man who shaped the Stratford Festival. It is staged by Colin Fox and Margaret Dale, with lighting design by Kevin Fraser. By using a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), Festival tickets ($17.50 each for Guthrie On Guthrie) may be purchased by calling the Festi­ val Box Office (519)273-1600, or toll free in Toronto (416)363-4471, in Kitchener-Waterloo (519)662-2215, in London (519)227-1352 and in Detroit (313)964-4668. Box Office hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. for Keith Sisson & DarleneSmith SAT. SEPT. 9,1989 Listowel Agricultural Hall $5. per person MusicBy D.J. PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA THURS..FRI..SAT. 5P.M.-12A.M. BLYTH INN EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 523-9381 Cheryl Swarts and Stephen Walsh share a special moment in Blyth’s production of “The Mail Order Bride’’, this season’s final offering. A recreation of three generations, “Bride” opened August 30 and will run until September 16. This fall it will tour Ontario making 22 stops across the province. Theatre review ‘Bride’ innovative, challenging BY BONNIE GROPP With so many people interested in tracing their roots today, what fun it would be for them to have Harold as tour guide. Harold is “the crazy coot” who steals the show in Blyth Festival’s production of “Mail Order Bride” which opened on August 30. It is through the eyes and stories of Harold English, played by Stephen Walsh, that a young married couple, Russell and Eva Teeter are given a glimpse of Russell’s grandparents and par­ ents. The story takes place in 1954, when Russell and Eva return to the Teeter farmhouse following Grand­ ma’s death. Long-time family friend, Harold, takes them on a whimsical and sentimental walk back through time to when Char­ lotte Emery came as a mail order bride to marry the much younger Charles Teeter, a pioneer farmer in 1908. Playwright Robert Clinton, six­ time winner of the Alberta Play- wrighting Competition, has written a script that is innovative and challenging. Mail Order Bride pre­ miered at the Theatre Network in Edmonton last year and has been produced by the Blyth Festival and Prairie Theatre Exchange in Winni­ peg. The award winning script is imaginative - Harold’s repartee with the audience provides some of the most hilarious moments in the production. <For example, when Russell’s car refuses to start Har­ old assures everyone that he will have to give it up soon. “There are only seven of those sounds on tape,” he says with an impish grin.) The actors all give solid perfor­ mances. Katia de Pena as Charlotte Emery-Teeter is wonderful as the lonely spinster who seeks a new life through a mail order bride agency. Kevin Bundy gives a strong per­ formance as her idealistic, naive young husband Charles. Robert Winslow and Melissa Bell as Russell and Eva Teeter were almost disturbingly realistic as a young couple bitter and disillusion­ ed with their life and their marri­ age. Russell’s mother Rachel, who transforms from tomboy, to seduc­ tress to diplomat was played well by Cheryl Swarts. And Art Milli­ gan, the meek and shallow travell­ ing salesman who offers Rachel the opportunity to escape her back- woods existence, is played with comic confusion by Robert Mc­ Clure. But, the real star of this produc­ tion is Stephen Walsh, whose portrayal of Harold is superb. We see a multi-dimensional man with the unique capability of laughing at himself. Yet, when Russell refers to him as crazy he reiterates the oft-said statement of proclaiming that it is a matter of opinion. No truer words were ever spoken. Howard’s down-to-earth comments delivered with tongue-in-cheek Riddell announces contest for local photographers Jack Riddell, Huron M.P.P. has announced his annual photography contest will begin Sept. 1. The winning photographs will be included in Mr. Riddell’s calender for 1990. Deadline for entry is Nov. 3. Guidelines for the contest are: •Scenes should be from Huron County or surrounding area. Pre­ ference will be given to scenes which best reflect the character and lifestyle of Huron County^ •Photographs can be current, or older ones of historical interest. •Black and white reproduces much better than coloured, al­ though the latter can be used. •Because cost prohibits me from printing in colour, the most effec­ tive photos will be those which rely on composition rather than colour. •A total of 12 photos will be chosen; each entrant receives a prize. •All photographs will be return­ ed to the owner following the publication of the calendar. •The contest will open Septem­ humour by Walsh belie a deep wisdom and understanding of life and human nature. With unabash­ ed straight-forwardness he offers sound advice. On the other side he displays anger and frustration over losing the love of Rachel to Milligan. Katherine Kaszas’ direction is fast-paced, making the transitions from past to present and back, smoothly, and easy to follow. Set design, which Harold in­ forms the audience, ‘looks nothing like the Teeter farm’ was unaffect­ ed yet effective. Mail Order Bride which is being performed at Blyth Festival until September 16 is a bitter-sweet, witty allegory of love, family and human nature and is an excellent final selection of this year’s highly successful summer season. ber 1st. Watch your local newspap­ ers for further reminders as the deadline date draws nearei. •Deadline for entries is Friday, November 3rd. •All photographs must be mark­ ed clearly with the location of the subject matter; and the name, address, and telephone number of the person entering the photo. •Entries may be mailed or dropped off at any of Mr. Riddell’s riding offices in Wingham, Exeter, or Goderich or sent to me of the Legislative Buildin;-. Queen’s Park, Toronto, M7A \2. Try th* Cl***lfl*d AZL»I LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1-800-265-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO FRI.-THURS. FRI. & SAT. SUN.-THURS PARK THEATRE ROBIN WILLIAMS He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary, DEAD -.J POETS SOCIETY WH TURNER &HOOCH Playing Friday - Thursday Sept Sth - 14th Showtimes: Fri. -Sat.7&9p.m. Sun.-Thurs. 8p.m. each evening LY'CEUMTIEAT-RE ! Phone 357-1630 for 24 hour movie information ™ TOM HANKS! BLYTH FIREMEN’S PANCAKE BREAKFAST SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 & 10 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. AT BLYTH FIRE HALL ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT: Pancakes, sausage, bacon, real maple syrup and real butter, coffee, tea, orange juice. ADULTS $3.75, CHILDREN [12 AND UNDER] $2.75, PRESCHOOLERS FREE.