The Citizen, 1994-06-22, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1994. PAGE 25.
Brussels kids record for Blyth ‘School Days9
By Bonnie Gropp
Last Wednesday students from
Grades 5 and 6 at Brussels Public
School became part of the excite
ment for the 20th anniversary sea
son of Blyth Festival when they
recorded music for the play Glen
garry School Days.
Teacher Joan Perric says the stu
dents became involved after a
phone call from Janet Amos enlist
ing Mrs. Perrie's help. She wanted
a children's choir to provide music
during scene changes and curtain
calls, in addition to supporting the
singing of the actual actors.
The songs selected for the show
are, she says, appropriate to the late
1800s and varied in style. They
include a religious piece, a French
Doon hosts picnic
Farmers* and villagers at Doon
Heritage Crossroads will be
celebrating Canada's birthday on
Friday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
In 1914 the country was only 48
years old, and the patriotic feeling
was alive and well. People looked
forward to a day of musical
entertainment, a family picnic, and
other leisure time pursuits that were
part of the celebrations on Canada's
birthday, Doon will recapture the
spirit on July 1 with a day long
birthday party that will have all the
traditional fun and entertainment
from the tum of the Century.
Horse-drawn wagon rides, a
quilting demonstration, musical
entertainment in the church, an
afternoon concert by Nonesuch and
Banish Misfortune, a fire up steam
engine and a free draw for a 1914
style picnic basket are all part of
Doon's Canada Day party.
Bring a picnic or take advantage
of the barbecue that will be set up
for the day.
Doon will offer free admission
on Canada Day.
round and a nationalistic selection.
The recording session, which was
done by the Festival's Head of
Sound Rob Metcalfe, was the stu
dents say, interesting. "It was fun
getting to record," says Cassie
Bootzin.
Three recordings of each song
were done, one with piano, one
without and one in the gymnasium.
"We sounded pretty good in the
gym," said Michael Walker.
Some experimentation was done
with children singing solos and
duets. Also, the children had the
opportunity to get a little rowdy
when they were asked to tape a
crowd scene for another Blyth pro
duction He Won't Come in From
the Barn. "We got to yell we want
Tuning up
With the humid weather and soaring temperatures making it hard for people to move,
Brussels Public School's Grade 5/6 students were real troupers during a recording session at
the school on Wednesday, June 15. The choir, under the direction of Joan Perrie was doing
music for the Blyth Festival production of Glengarry School Days, which opens this Friday
night. The students are being treated to a preview performance on Thursday.
Aylmer. That was really fun," says
Matthew Cameron.
Many of the students were
thrilled that they were going to be
part of something as exciting as
Blyth Festival, even if on a smaller
scale than their schoolmates, Justin
Ruttan and Megan Teeft, who both
have roles in the play. Nicole
Lowe said it was nice to be part of
the play, while Elizabeth Ross said
she felt it was pretty special to have
been asked to do it. "A lot of peo
ple are going to be hearing us.
That’s really neat."
Tricia Teeft, Megan's sister
agreed. "It was an awesome chance
of a lifetime to sing in an actual
theatre show."
Many other superlatives were
used to describe the experience,
such as "cool" and "wicked", but
the students also had rave reviews
for Mr. Metcalfe, who, Amy Ross
said "was nice. He complimented
us on the work."
Jennifer McDonald added, "He
said when we were done he was
very proud of us."
Mrs. Perric was pleased by the
student's efforts as well, noting that
the hot day had made it very diffi
cult for them. "I was disappointed
that it was such a hot day. I felt the
kids were tired, though they did try
to do their best."
A reporter from The London
Free Press recently interviewed
Mrs. Perrie with regards to the stu
dent's recording as well. "She was
interested in the lie between the
Festival and community," Mrs. Per
rie said.
In recognition of the students
work, Blyth Festival has given
them complimentary tickets to a
preview performance to hear their
music on stage.
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we hope that these and
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FUNERAL HOME
Brussels, Ont.
887-6336