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The Citizen, 1994-08-17, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1994. Good sport Melodie Shannon, a member of the Huron Country Young Players, serenaded Lloyd Wheeler when the five person troupe brought its Musical Revue to Huronlea in Brussels as part of a 21 stop tour. Mr. Wheeler, one of several Brussels people, who came to the home to hear the group, found it good fun as the singer cozied up to him during her rendition of Hey Big Spender. Music review HCP Players, talented troupe HCP brings ‘Oklahoma’ here By Bonnie Gropp I went to take a picture and stayed until the end. Last Wednesday, a musical revue, featuring the Huron Country Young Players was presented for the enjoyment of residents, guests and the community people at Huronlea. The show, which was generously sponsored by the Brus­ sels Lions Club, was one of 21 stops from Sarnia to Listowcl in this tour. A pilot project, the idea for the show, according to director Carl Zvonkin, was to bring theatre to seniors and others who are unable to get to the theatre on their own. This year's revue, which grew from its original eight slop lour, has been so well received that a larger pro­ duction is already being planned for next year. With talent anc1 quality material the troupe of five musicians demonstrated that you don't always need lavish production to entertain. Drayton extends season The Drayton Festival Theatre has experienced a summer season of unprecedented success. Drayton's '94 season was launched with the dream of re-creating the magic of its 1993 sold out season, and as an encore it announced a sold out season prior to opening night. With hundreds of patrons on the waiting list, Artistic and Managing Director, Alex Mustakas, did not want anyone to miss his third production of the 1994 summer season. Nunsense which opened on Aug. 10 and runs until Sept. 3 has been extended two weeks and is now scheduled to run until Sept. 17. Two previous Drayton productions were also completely sold out this season, but due to lime requirements Nunsense was the only production to be extended. This wacky musical comedy is billed as a "Nunslop Musical, A Sure Fire Hit!" and ticket sales have proven Drayton has yet another hit on its hands. No stranger to Summer Theatre, Nunsense, written by Dan Goggin With minimal props and virtually no set, they brought to life a reper­ toire of classics, from Broadway to the war years to the present. Timeless songs like A Nightin­ gale Sang in Berkeley Square were tender bits of nostalgia for those in attendance, while showsloppcrs, such as Anything Goes brought on the smiles. The familiar Somewhere Over the Rainbow even inspired an impromptu duct with one of the residents. The four singers, Steven Gauci, Christian Jeffrey, Melodic Shannon and Mai-Liis Todd have marvelous voices, though I must admit a per­ sonal preference for the talent of Ms Shannon, whose pelite frame houses a dynamic voice. Her rendi­ tion of one of the numbers from Les Miserable.? was emotionally charged. The other member of the troupe is its equally notable musical direc­ tor Laurence Gauci. The tour ends Aug. 19 in Lislow- el at Parkview Gardens. is a popular production among theatre goers. Under the direction of Alex Mustakas, with musical direction by Greg Diakun and starring Karen K. Edissi as Sister Mary Cardclia this production will, without a doubt, display that distinctive brand of Drayton humour. A wacky musical comedy, it tells the talc of The Order of the Little Sisters of Hoboken who need to raise money - to bur}' the last of the other nuns who have died of botulism. Il was contracted from vichyssoise prepared by the convent chief, Sister Julia, Child of God. Mercifully, five nuns were spared, as they had been playing Bingo in another parish that night. So, it's lime for them to hold a variety benefit night and as their venue they have chosen the Drayton Opera House Theatre. With an extension of 14 shows and with ticket prices ranging from SIS to S20, give The Drayton Festival Theatre Box Office a call at (5 19) 638-5555. Tickets arc moving quickly. On March 31, 1943, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! opened on Broadway and a golden era in musical theatre was born. Now, this classic masterpiece is coming to the theatre in country - Huron Country Playhouse - from Aug. 16 until Sept. 3, sponsored by Union Gas. This delightful and enchanting musical was the first collaboration between Richard Rodgers (music) and Oscar Hammcrstcin II (book and lyrics) and is based on Lynn Riggs Green Grow the Lilacs with original dances by Agnes De Millc. Rodgers and Hammcrstcin were the most consistently successful, and most popular, men of American theatre. The phrase "Rodgers and Hammcrstcin" was, and still is, a hallmark of authentically superb entertainment. Laid in the early years of the 20th Century, when what is now the slate of Oklahoma was called Indian Territory, this enduringly rapturous expression of life on the prairie has delighted the world with its fresh simplicity and the unforgettable songs that tell it. The only way to produce By John Schedler Leading off this week's new releases is Schindler's List **** (MCA/Universal) an exceptionally powerful movie about the Holocaust from director Steven Spielberg. This multi-award winner has a look and feel of reality about it which makes the horror and heroism seem even more compelling. The film was written for the screen by Steven Zaillian Searching for Bobby Fischer and stars Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes and a superb cast of little known Eastern European actors. Highly recommended! (Rated R) Those over-educated, underachieving 20s6nrethings known as Generation X arc the focus of Reality Btles *** (MCA/Universal) a fine contemporary comcdy/drama starring Winnona Ryder and Ethan Hawke. (Rated PG-13) I'll Do Anything *** (Columbia/Trislar) was originally produced as a musical, but after poor test screening all the songs were deleted. As it turns out what's left is a highly enjoyable and biting satire of life in Hollywood. The first rate cast features Nick Nolte, Julie Kavner, Albert Brooks, Tracy U-llman and newcomer Whittni Wright. (Rated PG-13) Also recommended is My Girl 2 *** (Columbia/Tristar) an engaging sequel again starring Anna Chlumsky, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis. This time the plot finds young Vada on a trip to Los Angeles in an effort to loam more about her mother who died shortly after she was bom. This is a tender, warm and delightful film families should love. Set in the 1930s Sirens ** (C/FP) tells the erotically charged story of a young minister and his wife who travel to rural Australia in an effort to persuade a painter to withdraw one of his works (a naked woman on a cross) from an exhibition. I for one found Sires to be pretentious and a bit dull. (Rated R) Ln the classic movie department is a film that has been around for some lime. Rummaging through the bargain bins the other day I ran across yet another release of the original 1925 Phantom of the Opera. This version from HGV Video is advertised as "a new masterpiece for the 90s", a claim which I found bends the truth somewhat. The actual film is of course the same as all the other versions which vary widely in quality. This copy is colour tinted with average picture quality, something which could be improved if it was recorded in the standard play mode instead of the inferior LP. But, what attracted my attention was an introduction by actor Christopher Lee and the soundtrack which is composed and performed by Rick Wakeman of "Yes" fame. Unfortunately the banal songs take away more than they add and Lee's intro is a bore. Sure the price is only S9.95, but I'd much rather fork over another S20 for Kino Video's beautiful version which features a powerful organ score by Gaylord Carter. I Video IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... J.Fl.'S GAS BAR & TAKE OUT LTD. Brussels 887-6951 NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK Schnindler's List, Thumbelina, Blank Check, Major League 2, On Deadly Ground, Grumpy Old Men, Lightning Jack, Romeo is Bleeding, Beethoven 2, Reality Bites, Blink, Searching for Bobby Fisher Children’s Movies 99e Regular Movies $1.49 New Releases $2.49 Oklahoma! is big and the Playhouse production will be no exception. The cast of 28 is headed by Dan Chameroy as the ardent and optimistic. Curly, Leisa Way as his sweetheart, Laurey, Christopher Shyer as the cowboy who reports on Kansas City. Will Parker, David Naim as the villainous hired- hand Jud, Barbara Whecldon as the heroine's wise aunt, Aunt Eller, Liz Gilroy as the girl who cain't say no, Ado Annie, George Polhilos as the slippery Persian peddler, Ali Hakim and Nicholas Rice as Andrew Carnes. Other members of the cast arc Kevin Ethcrington, Raquel Duffy, Tracey Flye, B. Alan Geddes, Glenn Ken, David Kelly, Salvatore Scozzari, Andrea Sherwood, Bridgit Aloi, Barbara Foy, Jeremy Kushnicr and Danielle Wolstat. The cast is completed with eight local adults: Matt Cassidy, Kay Darling, Teresa Dill, Nicole Horton, Jason Mclochc, Peter Russell, Dor^ald Schram and Harriet Van Dor Burgl. Directing and choreographing this romantic folk-tale will be Playhouse Artistic Director and General Manager, Max Reimer whose other "big" hits have been Camelot, Oliver!, Fiddler On The Roof and this season's Peter Pan...the musical. Music direction will be under John M. Karr. Robert J. Ivey will re-create the Oklahoma plain and Jo Zvonkin the colorful costumes. Simon Day (Production Manager/Lighling Designer) and his crew will be responsible for construction the settings and Gloria Day (Stage Manager) will make everything run smoothly. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Oklahoma! is one of the most popular, most beloved, most widely-produced around-the-world musical shows in theatrical history. Every song is well known and well loved: Oh, what a Beauliful Morning, The Surrey with the Fringe on Top, People Will Say We're in Love and of course the rousing, title song, Oklahoma! Call the Huron Country Playhouse Box Office at 1-800- 706-6665 (within 519 area code) or (519) 238-6000 (local calls) to reserve tickets. Engagement Mr. Bill Stevenson is happy to announce the forthcoming marriage of his daughter Lissa Lianne Stevenson to Jason Kirk Berard on Saturday, August 27th, 1994 at 6 p.m. Main St. United Church, Mitchell, Ontario ENGAGEMENT SCHUITEMAN-GODKIN Jackie and Jack Schuiteman of Fort Frances and Marion and Lavern Godkin of Walton wish to announce the forthcoming marriage of their children Geri-Lee and Gary. The wedding will take place Saturday, August 20, 1994 in Devlin, Ontario.