The Citizen, 1996-07-31, Page 31In Eden
Liza Balkan as Charisse, the ditzy owner of a bed and
breakfast cozies up to one of her guests, Andrew (Andrew
Dolha) in this scene from the 1996 Blyth Festival comedy
Villa Eden.
Theatre review
Zucco the bright spot
in otherwise drab play
Starts Friday
August 2nd
25TH ANNIVERSARY
The family of Barb and
Harvey Black Invite you to
help celebrate their
25th Wedding Anniversary
Saturday, August 10th
Belgrave Arena
9 - 1 p.m.
Friends & Family Welcome
Best Wishes Only
80TH BIRTHDAY
The family of Roberta
Simpson wish to invite all
relations, friends and
neighbours to come to a
Come and Go Tea for her
80th birthday, at Huronlea,
Brussels, Ontario on
Sunday, August 11, 1996
from 2 to 4 p.m. Best
Wishes Only.
EDDIE MURPHY
THE
KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS,
TEENAGERS ON A DATE.
THIS ONE WILL PLEASE EVERYONE."
-CAI,. MIL.,. CDC SYNDICATION
FRI.-THURS.
AUG. 02-08
7 PM NITELY
FRI.-THURS.
AUG. 02-08
9 PM NITELY
14
LONG DISTANCE? CALL I-800-265-3438 FOR TOLL FREE MOVIE INFO
Buck & Doe
for
Leanne Whitmore
St
Brad Carter
Friday, August 9th, 1996
9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Age of Majority
Lunch Provided
Music by: Prime D.J.
For more information
phone:
527-1491 or 527-0282
BUCK & DOE
for
DEREK JEFFERSON
and
KRISTA LAWRIE
Friday August 9
9 pm - 1 am
Age of Majority Required
For more information
Call Mike
482-1190
LORDY, LORDY,
BETTIE CURRIE
CAN'T BE 40!
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1996 PAGE 31.
By Bonnie Gropp
Agatha Christie meets I Love
Lucy.
This would perhaps best describe
Colleen Curran's Villa Eden, which
premiered this past week, the third
offering in Blyth Festival's 1996
season.
Curran's style, (Cakewalk, Local
Talent, Ceili House) has always
been less than subtle. In this comic
whodunit, which takes place in a
bed and breakfast fashioned in an
Italian theme, she blends an eccen-
tric mishmash of characters and
campy humour, with enough twists
and turns to make you carsick on
the way to murder.
Director Anne Anglin, familiar
with Curran's simple approach to
comedy, lays it on thick, attempting
to wring out as many laughs as pos-
sible. Characters in drag, double
takes and over-acting obviously do
little to enhance this rather insipid
effort, however.
Despite this, Villa is not without
its moments. The story, which
involves an oddball assortment of
guests and an equally eccentric pro-
prietor, works its way to ,a satisfac-
tory, if not satisfying, conclusion.
Liza Balkan plays Charisse, a
woman with a penchant for using
incorrect words and old movies.
Her infatuation with the 1950's
flick Three Coins in the Fountain
inspired her establishment.
Not exactly enjoying success, it
is much to her dismay that guests
begin arriving. We soon realize that
the guests are tied together in some
way, though it is difficult to under-
stand the coincidence that has
brought all of them to the same
place at the same time.
With the exception of the neces-
sary sinister villain, the characters
are all likeable, though at times irri-
Buck & Doe
for
HEATHER McDONALD
JACK VAN DORP
Friday, August 16, 1996
9 p.m. - 1 a.m.
Age of Majority Only
For more information call
523-9023 or 523-9404
taring personalities. Balkan plays
Charisse with her head in the
clouds, while Andrew Dolha, as her
romantic interest, fluctuates uncer-
tainly back and forth, from joining
her there to having his feet placed
firmly on the ground.
Dr. Annie Brice, is played by
Eric Coates. The only reason I can
conceive for this role reversal is the
idea that a man as a woman would
be funnier. Likewise is Wanda Gra-
ham, who had turned in a stellar
performance in Mabelle Mabel ear-
lier this season, as the local police
constable.
Another cross dresser is Jacques
Basko, but in this case it makes
sense. As Cyril and his identical
sisters April and Avril, he lives up
to the challenge of creating his
triplet personae.
The real treasure of this play,
however, is Jocelyne Zucco as the
flamboyant Diana. After an under-
stated performance in Mabelle she
shines as the fiery Italian with a
secret. She was the brightest spot in
this often drab story.
With Blyth's premise of deliver-
ing new Canadian talent to the
stage, sometimes you win and
sometimes you lose. Curran has
proven herself to be a favourite
here, perhaps for the fact that she
demands nothing of her audience.
Villa, though at times irritating, is
simple. It requires no more of the
theatregoer than to sit back and
laugh when, and if, you find some-
thing funny. If you expect more
than that, you lose.
CAPITOL
THEATRE
291-3070
All Seats $4.25
LISTOWEL
Dolby Surround Sound Stereo
STARTS FRIDAY
August 2 - 8
7:00 p.m.
2 p.m. Sat., Sun., Mon.
Sat. Sun, Mon. Matinee $2.00
NUTTY PROFESSOR AA
9:00 p.m.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
3rd Big Week PG
August 12.16
JURASSIC PARK
2 p.m. Shows only $1.00 per person
Seniors
picnic
About 30 Blyth Swinging
Seniors met in the Lions Park for
their picnic and pot luck dinner.
After dinner president, Isabelle
Craig called the meeting to order
and opened with 0 Canada. Happy
Birthday was sung to Vera Badley,
Bernice McClinchey and Effie
McCall for their July birthday and
to Feme Howatt for her birthday in
August.
The usual reports were given and
approved.
The English Award this year was
presented to Joy Cullen at the
Grade 8 graduation ceremony.
Jean Nethery, Graeme
McDowell, and Alma McCallum
took part in the lawn bowling for
the senior games.
Isabelle reminded everyone of
the fall rally to be held Oct. 10 at
the Blyth Community Hall.
Plans are underway for the
seniors' float which will be in the
parade for the "Homecoming" on
Aug. 10.
Some of the seniors will be
providing entertainment at the Day
Centre on Aug. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Games followed, led by Jean
Nethery, Mary Walden and Jane
Lawrie.
Results are as follows: guessing
the weight of a watermelon, Reg
Schultz; guessing the number of
candies in a jar, Jean Nethery;
guessing what was in a wrapped
box, Lenora Davidson.
Joann McDonald proved to be
the steadiest person carrying a book
on her head and going through
several exercises. Janet Lawrie
conducted the next contest with the
answers being the names of cakes.
Joann McDonald and Ferne
McDowell won this.
A card game was conducted by
Mary Walden. The winners were:
Effie McCall, Nellie Mason,
Lenora Davidson and Ferne
Howatt. Jean Nethery conducted a
musical contest and Graeme
McDowell took this prize.
"Rolling the Balls" (without
using hands or feet) was won by
Les Rutledge and Alma McCallum
and John Blake and Vera
Hesselwood. Joann McDonald
proved to be the best marble roller
and much fun was had over the
balloon game.
ntertainment