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The Citizen, 1991-07-03, Page 31THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 3,1991. PAGE 31. 'Romance' brings reunion for Theatre school grads A better life Patricia Collins as Lisette de Courval, centre, tells Barbara Bryne, left, as Rose Ouimet and Anne Wright as Gabrielle Jodoin all about life on an ocean liner in this scene from Michel Tremblay's Les Belles Soeurs at Stratford's Avon Theatre Theatre review Cast of stars in Les Belle Soeurs’ BY BONNIE GROPP Stratford Festival's production of Michel Tremblay's Les Belles Soeurs is quite likely one of the finest examples of ensemble work you are ever likely to see. Tremblay, who possesses extraordinary insight into the female psyche, has written a play about 15 women, of different age and status, but with very similar insecurities and dreams. Set in Montreal during the sum­ mer of 1965, the story begins as housewife Germaine Lauzon, receives the one million trading stamps she has won. To share in her good fortune, and to rub salt into the wound, she invites her rela­ tives and friends over for a "stamp pasting party". As lime passes, we become privy to their fears, frustrations and fol­ lies and to the jealousy festering in them over Germaine's good for­ tune. They gossip, complain and judge others for their sins while all the while they are stealing the stamp books. Don't look for anything much to like in most of the characters, as there are few admirable trails to be found. "It's like living in a barn­ yard," says one of the characters, Lisette de Courval, of her acquain­ tances. "These people should be hidden away somewhere, they make me so ashamed." But Tremblay provides each with an opportunity to tell her story and we discover what pieces of the female enigma have come together to comprise the individual person­ alities. It is said that Tremblay wrote Les Belles in an attempt to "legitimize" the unelegant French of an east-end Montreal neighbourhood after see­ ing a different production that left Tremblay, an east-ender himself, dissatisfied. While the play was set in Montreal, he noted that no one in it spoke like anyone he knew. That was when he decided to write a play with a commitment to himself that it would be written as he heard it in his head. Though it has had its critics, Les Belles has been translated into six languages and received over 90 professional productions world­ wide. Many believe that the success is not based so much on the fact that he wrote a play that spoke the true language of Montreal, as it is that the play is about 15 wonderful­ ly funny, frighteningly real women. The actresses in the Stratford production are some of the most revered and recognizable in Cana­ dian theatre. Two-time winner of the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Best Actress, Susan Wright plays the role of Germaine, a loud­ mouthed, unrefined housewife. Her real-life sister Anne, in her sixth season at Stratford, plays her sister Gabrielle, a somewhat more sub­ dued version of Germaine. A third Wright sister, Janet is making her Stratford debut as the stolid, stem spinster Rheauna. An actor and director for over 25 years Ms Wright appeared as Maxine in the film version of Bordertown Cafe, a play, which premiered in Blyth. Another well-known face on the Stratford Festival stage is Barbara Bryne, a multi-talented award win­ ner who has been part of the com­ pany for five seasons. Ms Bryne plays the role of Germaine’s sister Rose, an opinionated, sharp- tongued woman, who is a victim of the restrictions of the Catholic faith and of her own sexual ignorance. Patricia Collins plays the role of Lisette, a woman accustomed to the better life, who finds herself facing harder times. She barely conceals her disdain for the others, letting them know how much better her life has been than theirs and how priveleged they should be to know her. Another Dora Mavor Moore ' Award winner, Ms Collins is in her seventh season as a member of the Festival company. Emmy and Tony Award winner, Kate Reid plays the part of Ange- line, the only one of the women with any real heart, any real com­ passion or understanding for others. She is lonely, her one close com­ panion being Rheauna, whose unbendable nature almost manages to stifle the soul of her more liberal friend. Festival veteran Pat Galloway is beginning her 23rd season in Strat­ ford. She plays the role of Des- Neiges, a middle-aged spinster, craving affection, who is falling in love with the Fuller Brush man. Goldie Semple, in her seventh season at Stratford, plays the part of Germaine's rebellious youngest sister Pierrette. Ostracized by her family for her fast life and dumped by her boyfriend, Pierrette secs her life over al 30 and drinks to forget. Mary Hitch Blendick, who plays Yvette, has appeared on Stratford's stage for seven seasons. Her char­ acter in Les Belles is a woman of little substance. While the others deliver soul-searching soliloquies, Yvette tells us about weddings and birthday parties. Michelle Fisk, who appeared at Blyth Festival, two summers ago, as Mrs. Donnelly in Sticks and Stones is in her second season at Stratford. She plays Marie-Ange, a frustrated, angry woman, who is the first to steal some of Ger­ maine's good fortune. Back for a second season Nancy Beattie, another Blyth Festival vet­ eran, is the martyred Therese. She is a married woman, who finds her­ self saddled with the burden of car­ ing not only for her children, but for her crippled, pathetic 94-year- old mother-in-law. She has taken on the task with so little empathy that today she would be arrested for the treatment she gives the wretched woman. In her first year at Stratford, Sidonie Boll, plays the role of the wizened, wheel-chair bound Olivine. Shannon Lawson as Germaine's teenage daughter Linda, and Ann Bagglcy as Ginette are both in their second season' as members of the company. They, along with three - year veteran Julia Winder, repre­ sent in Les Belles the younger generation of the changing 60's. Winder's character, Lise, finds her­ self unwed, pregnant and facing the less than perfect solutions to the sit­ uation. As with any ensemble production there is no light that shines brighter than any of the others, but if one does glow more strongly in this stellar cast, it would have to be that of the inimitable Kate Reid. Though her character was the oniy one with many endearing qualities, her portrayal made Angeline all the more heartwarming. Translated into English by John Van Burek, Les Belles, is a wonder­ fully funny play about a group of bitter, desperate women, who all have dreams of belter lives for themselves and their loved ones. The enormous talent of the women who portrayed them makes them real. They breathe warmth and humour into unlikeable people, making them just a little easier to abide. Seaforth Minor Sports BINGO EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 7. 0 fl/| Seiforth 4 Dittricl• JU I IVI Community Centres ^^$2,000 IN PRIZES Plus SHARE THE WEALTH MUST GO JACKPOT J750 How did six graduates of the National Theatre School end up in Blyth to work on the world pre­ miere of Sean Dixon's second play? Director Greg Spottiswood, play­ wright Sean Dixon, actors Julie Slewart and Kevin Bundy, designer Jean Morin and stage manager Dawn Brennan, all products of the Montreal-based theatre school are featured in the Blyth Festival's next play, The End of the World Romance which opens at Blyth Memorial Hall on July 11. "I'm always amazed at the com­ plex network of associations, coin­ cidence and pure serendipity that results in something as wonderful as this group that has gathered to do The End of the World Romance" says director Greg Spottiswood. "For two years, I've been associated with this script, but I've known Sean since 1987. I directed Scan's first play, Falling Back Home which was workshopped at Blyth and appeared al Factory Theatre in October, 1990. I also acted oppo­ site him in Romeo and Juliet - one of my worst experiences as an actor. We're all friends and we've come from all comers of Canada from Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary and Vancouver to tell a simple story - the story of a sepa- Mappy Birthday ‘Bay Guess who? Cordy, Lordy Looltfwfw s 40! 4* W”»* ? Love Lome, Rob, Paul, Lori LONG DISTANCE? CALL 1 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO For the good of all men, and the love of one woman, he fought to uphold justice by breaking the law rated family who overcomes tremendous odds and gels a chance to start over. Somebody a while back asked me who would enjoy this play. Perhaps the kind of per­ son who remembers growing up and hearing tall tales of heroes, heroines and evil trolls - stories that tickle the imagination." Happy Birthday to you! Wejeel kind of blue, Cause you have turned 19 And we weren't there with you Happy day, Jason July 2 Love your family & friends the Blyth lw THURSDAY NIGHT IS WING NIGHT Wings 30c each MINIMUM ORDER 10 a variety of sauces available SORRY NO TAKE-OUTS FRI. & SAT. NITES 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT CHICKEN WINGS & CHIPS $4.95 EAT IN OR TAKEOUT THURS., FRI. & SAT. NITES PIZZA BUY ONE & GET A 2ND FOR 1/2 PRICE 5P.M. - MIDNIGHT EAT IN OR TAKE OUT ENTERTAINMENT July 5 - 6 Hugh Elder 523-9381 L.L.B.O. • KEVIN COSTNER Robin Hood PRINCE Of THIEVES FRI.-THURS. JULY 05-11 FRI. & SAT. 7 & 9:30 P.M. SUN.-THURS. 8 P.M.