Loading...
The Citizen, 1991-09-11, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1991.Letter from Wingfield Farm coming to F.E. Madill Sec. School ASTRO takes political approach Time to talk Karen Haslam, Minister of Culture and Communications speaks with one of the delegates at the annual fall meeting of the Association of Summer Theatres 'Round Ontario in Blyth, Sunday. Representatives from summer theatres across the province took part in the three-day conference to discuss common problems. Ms Haslam addressed the meeting Sunday. Representatives of the Associa­ tion of Summer Theatre 'Round Ontario (ASTRO) decided to get more involved politically when they held their annual fall general meeting in Blyth on the weekend. During its Saturday night session looking at the future of the group, it was voted to form a political action committee to deal with govern­ ments in areas such as formation of "Status of the Artist" legislation and finding additional money to help theatre market their product so that money from arts councils can be directed at the quality of product put on stage. Sunday moming the group had a chance to put that new political awareness to work when Karen Haslam, Minister of Culture and Communications and M.P.P. for Perth, spoke to the 30 delegates. Peter Smith, artistic director of the Blyth Festival and one of the members of the new political action committee asked about the Status of the Artist legislation which he had said the night before worried him because it seemed to treat the arts on the 19th century mode! of labour versus management. Ms Haslam said the legislation is still in its very early stages and involved her deputy minister, and a group within her ministry along with rep­ resentatives from the ministries of labour and housing at the current point. Mr. Smith said the aim of the legislation sounded good but there were potential problems and he asked that artists themselves be involved in shaping the legislation. "There's no way we would do something in Toronto in a bureau­ cratic way and just hand it down," Ms Haslam said. "Il's not my style." Mr. Smith offered the help of ASTRO in drafting the legislation. While the Status of the Artist leg­ islation is looking at housing mat­ ters as to providing affordable places for artists to live and have studios, one member of the ASTRO group asked the minister to look into problems of security of tenure for theatres as well. He pointed out one case where a the­ atre located in a University had been told it had to vacate its audito­ rium for a week because a confer­ ence had been booked in. In another case a dispute with a municipal council had left a theatre homeless and in yet another, plans to rebuild after a fire were seeing a theatre squeezed out of rehearsal and administration facilities they had occupied for years because the municipal council wanted to take over more of the building. In many cases, he said, it was grant money to cultural improvements brought in because of the theatres, that was paying for the renovations. Ms Haslam said she hadn't known there were such problems before. Leaders of several theatres asked Ms Haslam to work with the Min­ istry of Tourism to help get more money for promoting summer the­ atres. More than one million people visited summer theatres in Ontario in 1990 and theatres should gel as much of a boost in government tourism as theme parks, they said. Ms Haslam said one of the areas she was most strong on in her tenure is arts in education. As a for­ mer teacher, she said, she could see arts being applied in many areas of education from teaching history to calculating the volume of a sculp­ ture in physics classes. "When arts and culture become second nature to children from kindergarten right on through you won’t have to fight so hard in the trenches," she told the theatre lead­ ers. Unfortunately, she said, after meeting with Education Minister Marion Boyd it's obvious the short­ age of money may prevent more arts in education at least for the time being. Ms Haslam also worried about the "devolution" of power with the federal government handing over power for culture to the provinces. , "Constitutionally we're in trouble unless we show strong leadership in fighting for the culture of Cana­ da," she said, "We must fight hard to say we don't want devolution." If provinces are left with a little here and a little there to give to the arts our culture will be in trouble, she said. Dan Needles' highly acclaimed play, ‘Letter from Wingfield Farm’ will be presented in Wingham on Saturday, September 28 for one performance only, al F. E. Madill Secondary School beginning at 8 p.m. The play tells the story of Walt Wingfield, who leaves his Bay Street brokerage firm for the rustic splendor of Persephone Township. When Walt arrives, a few local eyebrows are raised. Weekend farmers were common enough, but this guy seemed to think he could make a living with a broken down racehorse and a single furrow plow! The hilarious results make up ‘Letter from Wingfield Farm’ the first play in the highly acclaimed Wingfield Trilogy, all written by Dan Needles. Rod Beattie stars as Wall and everyone else in the play. The per­ formance is being presented by the Mailland Conservation Foundation, and is sponsored by Branches of the Laurcntian Bank of Canada in Wingham, Walkerton and Listowel, and MacLarcn Engineers, in Lon­ don. All tickets are for general admis­ sion and arc available in advance at Branches of the Laurcntian Bank in Wingham, Walkerton and Listowel, at Flora's Flowers in Tccswatcr and Brussels Auto Sales in Brussels. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event. The cost is $12 per per­ son. Doors open al 7:30 p.m. The Maitland Conservation Foundation is a local, non-profit organization that raises funds for conservation projects being under­ taken by the Maitland Valley Con­ servation Authority. The proceeds from this event will be used to improve access for the physically challenged at the Wawanosh Nature Centre for Conservation Education. The improvements will include wheelchair ramps, and a variety of improvements to allow better access to nature trails. ENGAGEMENT KIKKERT- BERNARD Howard and Joan Bernard, Brussels and Hank and Winnie Kikkert, R.R. #3, Wingham are pleased to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children, Cindy Lou and Harvey James. The wedding will take place on Saturday, September 28,1991 at 1 p.m. in Brussels United Church, Brussels, Ontario. Air Farce flies into Blyth for live taping The Royal Canadian Air Farce will fly into Blyth Memorial Hall on Thursday, October 3 at 8 p.m. to do a live taping for CBC Radio and help raise funds for the Blyth Festi­ val’s "Catch The Spirit" capital campaign. They'll bring some heavy-duty celebrity passengers and a cargo load of jokes, satire and fun. The Air Farce is corny, clever and totally Canadian. Ln fact, it has become a national comedy institu­ tion since it first aired on CBC Radio in 1973. About half a million Canadians tune in every week to listen to the award winning show. for squeezing laughs out of just about anything and anyone. Noth­ ing is sacred to the three comedians featured in the live Air Farce appearances. Billing themselves as the nation's No. 2 comedy show (the Senate’s still No. 1) Luba Goy, Roger Abbott and Don Ferguson impersonate everyone from Bar­ bara Frum and Joe Clark to Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney. They can even make beleagurcd Canadi­ ans sit back and laugh al Mcech Lake and the GST. A limited number of reserved tickets for the Royal Canadian Air Farce show are now on sale for Birds of Prey An exhibition Hawks, Eagles, of A national travelling exhibit Provincial Museum and Communications, Canada, Vultures, and Owls the British Columbia of the Falcons Canada produced by funded by the Department of Museum Assistance Programmes On exhibit at the Huron County Museum 100 NORTH STREET Goderich, Ontario August 24 to November 8, 1991 For the past years, Air Farce has been crossing Canada, originating its shows from cities in every part of the country. This is its first per­ formance in Blyth. The Air Farce has a reputation $25 each (including GST). Don't be disappointed: performances al Blyth often sell out. Order your tickets for this special fundraising event by calling the Blyth Festival Box Office at 523-9300.