The Citizen, 1991-07-03, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3,1991.
Entertainment 'Stone Angel' adaptation
gets world premiere at Blyth
Theatre review
Little things mean a lot in ’Our Town’
BY KEITH ROULSTON
For the people who flock to the
Stratford Festival to see towering
characters like Macbeth and Ham
let live through momentous periods
of time, a side trip to Our Town at
the Avon Theatre, must seem
strange indeed.
While Shakespeare tackles huge
emotions in a spectacular way,
Thornton Wilder looks at everyday
life through a microscope. Our
Town, he once said, "is an attempt
to find value above all price for the
smallest events of our daily life."
There are times when those minute
moments, portrayed on stage, seem
too minor to deserve two and a half
hours of our lime but by the play's
end, the accumulated effect is a
powerful look al human life.
Our Town is sei in the small New
Hampshire town of Grover's Cor
ners New Hampshire at the tum of
the century but lake away the few
American references and it could as
easily be any Ontario town or vil
lage; take away the horses lied to
hitching posts on main street and
the long dresses on the women, and
it could as easily be today.
Wilder is at pains to show the
theatricality of Our Town, having
the narrator, acting as Stage Man
ager, introduce the action and
sometimes interrupt it and using
only a few chairs and no set at all.
Despite that, the realism of the
human story comes through.
Our Town tells the story of two
neighbouring families from act one,
a typical day in the life of the fami
ly, through a marriage and finally
to a death in act three.
Veteran Blyth Festival actor
William Dunlop plays Dr. Gibbs,
head of the one family while
Roberta Maxwell plays Mrs. Gibbs.
Peter Donaldson plays the town's
newspaper editor Mr. Webb, and
Susan Wright his wife.
Drawing the families together is
the love that grows between
George Gibbs and Emily Webb
(the vivacious Ann Baggley) that's
hinted at in the first act, develops in
the second, and is tragically cut
short in the third.
From the breakfast scene at the
beginning where children squabble
and fight in a way every parent rec
ognizes even today, to the tender
scene where a hesitant George and
Emily first realize there is more
than just friendship to their rela
tionship, the play rings true despite
the passage of lime since its setting
and even its premiere (1938).
But much of the wisdom of the
play comes from the Stage Manag
er. Describing the events leading
up to the wedding he says: "You
know how it is: you're 21 or 22 and
you make some decisions; then
whisssh! you're 70."
In the role Douglas Rain is won
derful, shuffling across the stage
but dominating it with his wit and
presence. Pointing to the two moth
ers on stage at one point he says: "I
don't have to point out to the
women in my audience that those
two ladies they see before them,
both of those ladies have cooked
three meals a day - one of 'em for
20 years and the other one for 40 -
and no summer vacation. They
brought up two children apiece,
washed, cleaned house, - and never
once a nervous breakdown "
Roberta Maxwell and Susan
Wright embody that kind of
strength, a strength that shows they
Lasting virtues
Roberta Maxwell as Mrs. Gibbs and William Dunlop as Dr.
Gibbs are part of a strong cast in Our Town at the Avon
Theatre at Stratford. Half a century after its premiere, the
play that is set at the turn of the century still has much to
say about the little things of human life.
real authority.
The play slowly gains power so
that by the final act, when the Stage
Manager and the characters muse
on death and the meaning of life,
there are tears in the eyes of many
in the audience and a sad recogni
tion that we're missing many of the
beautiful little moments in life in
our endless quest for the "impor
tant" big things in life. It's a lesson
that's as true, or more so, in 1991 as
it was in 1904. That is the univer
sality of Thomton Wilder's mes
sage that makes the play important
half a century after it was written
and the reason it is a play deserving
to stand along the blustering clas
sics on the other stages at Stratford.
might not have had the vote, but
certainly weren't compliant wash
maidens in their homes. They tend
to dominate the men, in many
ways, despite the exalted positions
of their husbands in town life.
William Dunlop and Peter Donald
son arc more moved than movers in
their homes.
Ann Bagglcy is the kind of girl
every man in the audience could
fall in love with. Eyes sparkling,
head full of romantic thoughts, she
projects a picture that makes one
think George Gibbs must be slower
than even he looks, not to have
latched onto her before. One again
gets the feeling that in their house
hold, it will be Emily who has the
FunFest offers plenty
of fun this weekend
Continued from page 1
day. The Legion is hosting a Pub
Night on Friday as well.
For the sports fan there is a
weekend long slow-pitch tourna
ment and even a kiddie's game on
Saturday afternoon. There are
many other activities for youngsters
during the afternoon as well,
including a fish pond and face
painting.
For the shoppers there will be a
gigantic flea market at the arena
throughout most of Saturday.
On Sunday, the traditional water
events will be held at the dam.
There will be bathtub and canoe
races, log rolling and of course the
popular Duck race. Don't forget to
buy a duck so you have a chance at
the prize.
Also on Sunday the Crusaders
will once again be holding a Bessie
Bingo at the park.
The firemen will be cooking
breakfast both mornings and
Cardiff Catering will barbecue
roast beef for Saturday night. St.
John's Anglican Church is hosting a
Pork Chop barbecue on Sunday^
just before the pyjama parade.
An outdoor church service and
pot luck lunch will be held on Sun
day morning.
Barbara Chilcott stars as Hagar in
the world premiere of Margaret
Laurence's classic novel, The Stone
Angel, adapted for the stage by
James W. Nichol.
The Blyth Festival and Theatre
Passe Muraille have joined forces
to bring Margaret Laurence's
haunting and emotionally charged
, novel to the stage for the first time.
The play is a journey through the
life of Hagar Shipley as she tells, in
her wry fashion, the story of her
family. A powerful and bold drama
portraying Hagar as a young girl in
a remote prairie town, as a stubborn
bride to Bram, as a demanding par
ent of John and Marvin, and at
ninety as a woman threatened with
a future in a nursing home. The
Stone Angel is a remarkable portrait
of a curiously loveable Canadian
character.
Barbara Chilcott comes from a
very theatrical family. Her brothers
Murray and Donald Davis, began
the Straw Hat Players in the
Muskoka area (now the Muskoka
Festival). At the Crest Theatre
»
7th Annual Quilt Show
July 6th through August 19th
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday
1:00 p.m. -4:30 p.m. Sunday
Quilt Fair
Saturday July 13th, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Local Quilters and suppliers show and sell
their quilts and related articles.
Quilt-in-a-Pillow Demonstration
Wednesday, August 13th
10:00 - 12:00. 1.00-4:00
For more Information, contact
Huron County Museum
110 North Street
Goderich, Ontario
N7A 2T8 (519) 524-2686
HURON
COUNTY
MUSEUM
(founded by the Davis brothers) she
appeared in numerous productions
including title roles in Anthony and
Cleopatra, Othello, Orpheus
Descending and Antigone. Recent
theatre credits include The Dream
land at Canadian Stage; Italian
American Reconciliation Theatre
works; and Road to Mecca, Mem
oir, The Dresser and Waiting for
the Parade at Theatre Newfound
land and Labrador. She appeared in
the all-female production of Caesar
at T.W.P. and productions at Strat
ford, The Citadel, Theatre Calgary
and Neptune Theatre. She appeared
in London, England in J.B. Priest
ly's The Glass Cage at the Picadil-
ly Theatre which was especially
written for her; and in The Ark at
Westminster Theatre. She has
appeared in numerous dramas for
Canadian television, BBC and
Granada TV, and in the film Lies
My Father Told Me . Barbara
Chilcott is married to Canadian
composer Harry Somers.
The Stone Angel is directed by
Brian Richmond
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