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The Citizen, 1992-06-24, Page 31Face-off Robert King as Westley and Barbara Worthy as Trixie confront each other in this scene from Robert Clinton’s comedy The Hometown Boy, which opened at Blyth Festival, Friday June 19. Theatre review Play leaves you wondering THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24,1992. PAGE 31. E ntertainment I ~l Chekhov's Uncle Vanya opens at Tom PattersonTheatre Anton Chekhov's profound comedy of heartbreak and hope, Uncle Vanya, translated by Michael Frayn, opened at the Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre, Friday, June 14, and plays in repertory through, September 19. A small group of people isolated on a rural estate in the dying days of Czarist Russia find their lives disrupted by the arrival of some visitors. Both humorous and compassionate, Uncle Vanya examines the bargain one makes with life. Uncle Vanya is directed by Joel Dowling with design by Frank Conway, music composed by Alan Laing and lighting design by Louise Guin and. The production features Wayne Best as Astrov, Sidonie Boll as Sonya, Lucy Peacock as Yelena, Kate Reid as Marina, Alan Scarfe as Vanya, Brian Tree as Telegin, David William as Serebryakov, and Janet Wright as Maria. Also appearing in Uncle Vanya are Stephen Bogaert, Barbara Fulton, Sabrina Grdevich, Jonathan Scarfe, and Geoffrey Tyler. Dan anA Vicki Colquhoun are pleased to announce the forth­ coming marriage of their daughter, Chastity to Arthur Bos, son of Adrian and Corrie Bos of Blyth. The wedding will take place Saturday, July 4, 1992 at 7 pm at Ontario Street United Church, Clinton. Reception to follow at Clinton Community Centre. BY BONNIE GROPP The Hometown Boy, a play by Robert Clinton, which premiered at Blyth Festival, June 19, has all it takes to be a winner - love, delusion, soul searching, humour and a mysterious traveller. Unfortunately, it pulls in so many different directions that for the first while the audience is challenged just trying to discern the relationships and how the characters fit in. While Clinton does attempt to show how their pasts connect them, I never quite got over feeling mildly confused. The play takes place on Christmas Eve morning at Rita’s Cafe and Westley's Full Service Garage. The set, designed by Ange Zhang, however, happens in a room that resembles a ramshackle living room, which actually joins Rita's and Westleys. Though the design is ambitious, complete with a wooden beam that drops on cue, it contributed to some of my confusion. The first scene opens with Trixie decorating the “cafe”. A fuse blows, whereupon a disgruntled, grunting man, with a flashlight stumbles in, pulling out plugs, before coming face to light with Trixie and uttering a sardonic “Ho, Ho, Ho”. The man is Westley, More on music for little ones Interest in the Kincardine Summer Music Festival (Aug. 2-8) is growing. One of the big areas of interest is in the program for young children, aimed at helping to develop their innate musicality in a fun and friendly way. The one-week program offered by the Festival will be run by Jackie Hawley, director of the Centennial Singers of Port Elgin. The activities will be loosely based on a system involving music and movement and employing large motor movements to enjoy making music. The program for young children aged 4-6 will be half-days. A full-day program for children aged 6-8 involving recorder playing will also be offered. who we eventually learn is Trixie's brother, just one of several “Scrooges”, the mercurial Trixie has to deal with. Times are tough in Midling, you see, and Westley's and Rita's are just hanging on. He can't pay the bills, has locked himself in the garage to invent, and won't let Rita, his wife, get the truck to pick up her turkeys for her Christmas Eve supper, a big event at the cafe. Enter Ryan, a former hometown boy, who ran away some years ago to become a country and western star. A problem with alcohol, a washed-up career and now he's run back. He crashes at Rita's where he encounters his old flame, Peggy, who's bitter on life, partly because of their ill-fated romance. “If it was easy, there’d be no country and western songs,” Ryan tells her. The comic relief is provided primarily by Bernard, the rather vague family friend, who operates the town depot - and is sweet on Peggy. He spends much of his time trying to get Westley to pay a bill for the annual hockey tournament - a tournament the town named after Wes, their former NHL hopeful, who gave it up for Rita. Then Wes's invention blows up the garage and things just couldn't get worse until the mysterious traveller arrives with a deal that Wes can't refuse. He signs on the dotted line ... in blood. Directed by the Festival's artistic director, Peter Smith, the talented cast is well up to the challenge of pulling things together. Barbara Worthy, a member of the Shaw Festival since 1985 gives an admirable job with the role of Trixie, a woman whom Westley says is “like shakin’ hands with a hornet's nest.” Kate Lynch, a multi-faceted actress who has appeared on stage, screen and television, performing Shakespeare, drama and comedy, portrays Rita with a perfect balance of martyrdom and humour. The only complaint is that she deserved a bigger part. Dan Lett, who recently performed in the Grand Theatre production A Woman in Black, demonstrates a wide scope of ability as Ryan. Westley is played by Robert King. This is his fifth season at Blyth Festival having appeared in, among others, the popular Garrison's Garage and Lilly, Alta. Last season he was a member of the Stratford company. In a dual role, as Bernard and the traveller is the scene stealing Alan Williams, a member of Blyth Festival's Company last year. Newcomer Stephanie Morgen- ster plays Peggy. Though her performance was not quite as polished as her cast members she did an able job of a demanding role. Mr. Clinton's play has some fine moments. There are also many good laughs inspired often by slapstick humour, but when it was over there were just too many questions left unanswered for me. Graduation SHERRY HOEGY Sherry Hoegy daughter of Barry and Karen Hoegy R.R.#1, Walton graduated from the Registered Nursing Program at Fanshawe College, London June 12, 1992. Sherry was the recipient of the Harry Rawson Award. Sherry Is presently working at University Hospital London. Congratulations Sherry. Love from Dad, Mom, all your family and friends. Graduation KARLA KING Joanne and Bill King are pleased to announce the graduation of their daughter Karla from the University of Western Ontario. She graduated with a combined Honours degree In English and Drama, and was named to the Dean’s Honour List. Karla is continuing her studies at the University of Guelph where she has been accepted in the Master's degree program in English and Drama. Congratulations and love from Mom, Dad and all your family. Graduation KIM FRITZ Jim and Barb Fritz, R.R. #2 Brussels are very proud to announce the graduation of their daughter Kim. She graduated from University of Guelph with an Honours Bachelor of Applied Science degree majoring in Child Studies on June 5th. Kim will be continuing her education at the University of Toronto where she has been accepted to the Institute of Child Studies’ 2 year Child­ hood Education Program. Congratulations from Mom, Dad and Family.