Loading...
The Citizen-Blyth Festival, 1999-06-23, Page 41PAGE 22. BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 1999. Designer’s challenge: turn theatre into a barn By Janice Becker Citizen staff Working on a collective is a unique and challenging experience tor a set designer and that task for Paul' Thompson’s production of Death of a Hired Man has been undertaken by Glenn Davidson. » “The nature (of the design) is entirely different for a collective,” says Davidson. As the story line evolves so must the set. Because a script is not prepared prior to the beginning of rehearsal, Davidson says he must work with the director throughout the development process to see where the "collective” work leads. In his designs, he strives to create a physical presence for the actors to work around, but not to impose the set on the actors, thereby restricting what may be created through the collective Making magic look real job of production team David James: creating the atmosphere for the playwright’s words. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Taking the playwright’s words and creating an atmosphere for them, is the magic of theatre. As production manager for Blyth Festival’s silver anniversary season, David James and his crew . look after all visual aspects of the plays from carpertry to wardrobe. What’s magic for the audience is hard work for the team of l 2, many of whom were on the job in May and will continue working until the end of the season. “For us it is magic to have a facility like this,” says James. “Most of us on staff this year agree this is the best facility in which we have worked.” A 1984 graduate of the University of Waterloo, James, who resides in Toronto with his wife, gained technical experience at Toronto’s Factory Theatre, with process. The story of Death of a Hired Man was somewhat easier to begin, he says, because he knew it would largely be set in a barn during the time of the threshing machines. However, with his work underway, the cast and director soon informed him that some scenes would take place outside the bam. Turning a “picture frame” stage with limited height into a bam was. one challenge,, but finding a way to incorporate the outside was another. Experienced in barn construction, Davidson had also worked on the set for He Won’t Come in From the Barn, he uses what he refers to a tear-away sets. A roof beam may begin within sight on the stage but then the end is torn away to imply a 50 foot roofline. Desrosiers Dance and Native Earth Theatre. He has returned to his alma mater to design shows and is currently production manager at George Brown College Theatre School. This is the fourth season at Blyth for James who was bom and raised in Leamington. The first two he worked as head electrician, and did the lighting designs for two shows, and last season filled the shoes of production manager. This role is made easier by designers. “It all flows from them. They submit architectural sketches and construct drawings of specificate accurate measurements and we proceed from there working hand in hand. We implement their vision. It’s very much about that. It’s very much about their vision and we make it work. That’s quite magical sometimes.” “The designers this year are all heavy hitters, very experienced. They have been around theatre for a long time, and almost all of them have a history with Blyth Festival.” Many of the designers’ ideas for the first two shows are in production hands by May, then building begins. There is always something new and unexpected to make the season’s work interesting. This year. Big Box is going to be a lot of fun to put together, says James. “It’s cartoony.” Death of the Hired Man, promises to be an epic challenge, with the entire theatre transformed into a barn. ,"I’ve only had the preliminary sketches on it, because Continued on Pg. 23 Davidson also aims to make his sets flexible to help create a series of environments that will still work as the collective ideas change. Another concept utilized by Davidson to get beyond physical boundaries of the stage is to break through the fourth wall, to extend the staging area into the seating section. For Hired Man a portion of the stage will protrude onto the first few rows of seating and a walkway will connect the stage to the balcony. The actors will use these extension to come closer to the audience, to draw them into the barn so they feel a part of the production, Davidson says. Davidson says he “likes to work in the box” (using set models) rather than from sketches on paper. By spending more on the modeling process, he is better able to tell what will work and ensures the actors are visible to the audience from all locations. “For me, I don’t fool myself so much (when working with the physical construction). It is more accurate.” Davidson’s construction of bam sets may also be not what is expected. Though barn board is a relatively easy commodity to find, he says painted board or carved styrofoam actually works better because the texture and detail can be enhanced for an improved look under stage lights. “Everything is bigger and better. I like broad strokes.” He is still looking for an alternative for hay as he takes allergy sufferers into consideration. While Davidson was not familiar with threshing machines prior to working on Hired Man, he spent time researching and taking pictures at museums to be able to recreate the equipment with realism. Planning to Renovate Your GARDEN? We have everything you need Please check for availability 185 Josephine St. Wingham 357-2700 ♦ Garden Centre ♦ Annuals ♦ Peat Moss ♦ Evergreens ♦ Specimen Trees ♦ Flowering Shrubs ♦ Perennials ♦ Bulbs He also has some assistance as one of the crew is a member of the Ontario Threshers’ Association. Davidson is pleased to be working in Blyth again this summer, having been on the production teams for He Won’t tcome in From the Barn, Booze 'Days in a Dry County, Glengarry School Days and Jake’s Place. “I like the environment of Blyth. Many summer theatres focus on attracting city visitors. The work here is different as it is based around the community it is in.” Death of the Hired Man A Collective Ceation Featuring • Guess Jeans •Tommy Hilfiger • Haggar Slacks • Ralph Lauren • Columbia Sportwear 252 Josephine Street, Wingham 357-4221 ;— r9?g APOTHEEARY SERVICES WE PROVIDE Assistance in selecting non­ prescription over-the-counter medications Verbal consultation or written information regarding your medications, herbal products and/or specific diseases • A private consulting room • 10% Senior's Discount every Tuesday on non-prescription items • FREE blood pressure testing during regular business hours Free local delivery Dan Taylor BSc. Pharm. 523-4210 For emergencies only call 482-9475 uuocpi III IG Wingham 289 Josephine St. JSreuu Custom brewing, fermenting & bottling your favourite wine, beer, coolers or cider Wine & Beer Making Supplies