The Citizen, 1991-07-03, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1991. PAGE 21.
Romance comes to Blyth on July 11
BY BONNIE GROPP
Rehearsals arc well underway for
the mystical "End of the World
Romance", which opens at Blyth
Festival, July 11.
The play written by Scan Dixon
is, director Greg Spoltiswood says,
a story about family, but one with
out typical conventions. It is a sim
ple fable of dreams, of a broken
family being brought together.
Romance was workshopped in
Blyth in August of last year and
Greg, who came in on the first
draft, describes it as "a labour of
love". He has been a part of Blyth
Festival's season every year since
theatre school in some capacity and
says it's like coming home. He
enjoys the community feeling and
has been looking at the possibility
over the years of organizing a pro
gram in the schools, using Blyth
productions as teaching tools for
the students. He did such a program
at Central Huron Secondary School
in Clinton and St. Michael's Sec
ondary School in Stratford last year
using Dixon’s play. "It had a recip
rocal benefit as I had the students
do the play which was good for
them, but I was able to see how it
worked," he said.
In bringing the story alive on the
Memorial Hall stage, Greg wanted
a set design with a sense of impor
tant space, where the most impor
tant thing on stage was the actor.
Jean Morin has managed a design
that uses every available inch to its
full advantage, Greg says. "Move
ment should be interesting," Jean
said, "because we've got the full
use of the stage."
The floor shape is reminiscent of
the Greek theatre,which Jean
attempted to duplicate to get a
mythical feeling. Others have
likened it to the "yellow brick
road," a comparison Greg favours
as it plays on the fable aspect of the
story.
Romance takes place in an
"unspecified Big City", Greg
explains, and Jean established that
feeling with a backdrop resembling
the shadow of a skyline.
A scrim drop is used to assist in
moving the scenes from the outside
of the church in the first act, to the
inside in the second and back again
in the third.
The costume designs by Mary
Fulford, are complimentary to both
performers and the story. She
explains that before beginning her
designs, she looks al the story, try
ing to imagine what the writer
intended and getting a sense of the
people in the story. Mary describes
the costumes as "an elevated story
stylism that is not walking street
reality."
The costume to be worn by the
character Quinn, played by Artistic
Director Peter Smith, may have a
look that comes from a clown or a
buffoon, but we walk a fine line. I
ask myself, "Is he the type of per
son you would see in Kensington
Market, and perhaps bat an eye, but
still be able to keep going?"' she
explains, smiling.
"What we are hoping to do is hit
the little things that are [familiar] to
everybody's idea of fables; to cap
ture the essence of that."
For example, the mysterious dark
personage of Crow, a person who
doesn't like to see anyone grow up
and who befriends the young girl
Max, wears a somber Victorian
look. But as you pan to his feet,
you see he wears a pair of cowboy
boots. "It let's you know it’s not
really of our world," Greg sums up.
Sean adds, "The idea is that
everything follows a certain logic
and watching the play the logic of
the world unfolds for you."
"Sean's writing embraces ambi
guity," Greg says. "Some thing's
you don't understand in our world,
but you have to learn to live with
all of this. Sometimes it's all so baf
fling."
End of the World Romance is
Sean's first play with dialogue and
Greg is passionate in his feelings
for the writer's and his collabora-
A bird's eye view
Greg Spottiswood, left, director of End of the World Romance, which opens in Blyth on July
11, looks over the model for the set design with the playwright, Sean Dixon. The story is
described as part fable, part vaudeville and part love story and features, among other
surprises, a bicycle with wings.
Putting it together
Greg Spottiswood, left, and Sean Dixon, right,director and
author respectively of End of the World Romance drop in
to chat with set designer Jean Morin and check on the
progress.
tive effort. "Sean is learning about
structure and taking liberties in the
writing of this play. I believe so
wholeheartedly in his writing. He
has a theatrical language that I feel
a strong connection with."
End of the World Romance runs
until August 23. It stars real-life
husband and wife, Peter Smith and
Laurel Paetz as Quinn and Rose.
Julie Stewart, who starred in the
CBC production Chasing
Rainbows, appears as their daugh
ter, Max. Goderich native, Kevin
Bundy, returns to the Blyth stage as
the misanthropic Crow.
Hosp. Aux.
holds
western
meeting
Forty people attended the June
meeting of the Clinton Public Hos
pital Auxiliary held at the home of
member Sharon Veitch. A western
them was carried out in the decora
tions and costumes worn by mem
bers with the prize for the best
costume going to Bcmice Jewson.
Reports given by the treasurer
and committees showed another
busy, successful month. The tag
day, held on May 17 raised
$2,131.49.
The annual newsletter was dis
tributed. Members who were absent
from the meeting will receive their
copies in the mail. Thanks to the
hospital staff who typed and copied
the letter.
Doreen Nogalo reported the Gift
Shop Fair she attended recently in
Kitchener. Samples of crafts were
shown and told of many more items
available. Kathleen Siertscma and
Leona Towton told of the interest
ing workshops they attended in
Toronto on May 8 and 9.
Samples of new auxiliary smocks
were available and a number of
members ordered their own
smocks. These will be available
before the September Region 2 Fall
Conference to be held in Clinton.
A pot luck luncheon was enjoyed
with ideal weather adding to the
pleasure of this last meeting of the
summer. The next meeting is
scheduled to be held in September
9 at 10 a.m.
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