The Citizen, 2003-06-25, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2003. PAGE 23.
Entertainment & Leisure
Theatre review
Avon’s ‘Gigi’, unassuming entertainment
Louis Jordan, who made the role
famous.
Domini Blythe is equally good as
the grandmother, Mamita. Her duet
with Blendick on / Remember it Well
was poignant, yet amusing.
The accents were a little off-put-
ting in the production, however.
Gould, Blythe and Blendick had
believable French
tongues, while
Chameroy seemed
from England.
This was a minor detail jn an oth
erwise fine production. Directed by
the Festival’s artistic director
twists to their
Collins and
to have come
Richard Monette, Gigi moves
smoothly with little tricks to keep
the flow. Some, however, are more
annoying than effective, run at high
volume.
As always, Donna Feore’s chore
ography is imaginative and exciting,
raising the entertainment factor at
least one notch.
From the start, which like a movie
begins with opening credits to the
happy, though abrupt, ending, Gigi
inspires a feeling of settling in for a
few hours of pleasant company.
The production is playing at the
Avon Theatre until Nov. 1
WEDDINGS
Performed ■ your location or our
iindoor or outdoor chapel
(non-denominational)
For brochure call:
REV. CHRIS MORGAN
ALL FAITHS PASTORAL CENTRE
BENMILLER, 524-5724
WEDDINGS
i i
‘Vaudeville’ revived
at Playhouse II I
)
Old love
In one of the highlights of the Stratford Avon Theatre’s pro
duction of Lerner and Loewe’s Gigi, James Blendick and
Domini Blythe perform I Remember it Well. (Courtesy photo)
in the newspaper, recognizes that his
affections for Gigi have grown, he
makes a proposal to her grandmoth
er. The terms of the agreement,
which include a seven-room town
house in her name, plus 34,000
francs per year are negotiated by
Aunt Alicia.
The elders’ view of love is real
ized with the signing of the contract.
Gaston, on the other hand, parad
ing his mistress for the first time in
public, comes to realize that what he
feels for Gigi is special, thus propos
es marriage.
As noted, Blendick, whose
Honore as Gaston’s uncle provides
narrative detail to the story, can be
counted on to deliver a solid per
formance.
Collins gets the most laughs and
deservedly so. She is a haughty, but
lovable Aunt Alicia. Gould is charm
ing, while Dan Chameroy gives a
likeable enough portrayal as Gaston.
His frenetic fuming is a contrast to
the sauvely contained portrayal of
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
In recent years Stratford Festival
has set the bar fairly high for itself
with regards to the production of
musicals.
While this year’s Gigi may lack
the emotional intensity of Carousel
or the energy of Fiddler on the Roof,
it is not without charm. From the
vivacious performance of Jennifer
Gould as the title character, to
Patricia Collins as the imperious
Aunt Alicia and the always likable
James Blendick as Honord, Gigi is
unassuming entertainment.
From the team of Alan Jay Lerner
and Frederick Loewe, who also
penned My Fair Lady, Gigi is taken
from a 1944 novella by Collette. Set
in 1901 France, it is a time of deca
dence and excess, a zest for life that
scoffs at traditions.
The ingenuously delightful Gigi,
cared for by her grandmother, is
tutored by her Aunt Alicia in the
ways of a lady. The older women
hope for her to have a life that is
secure, cared for by a man of means.
Gigi, however, is less sure about a
life as a courtesan.
When family friend Gaston, a
womanizer of the first order, whose
exploits are reported as world events
Vaudeville! is running all summer
long at the intimate, 160-seat
Playhouse II in Grand Bend. The
production was commissioned by
Drayton Entertainment and was
originally conceived, directed and
choreographed by theatre legend
Alan Lund as the inaugural produc
tion for the Drayton Festival Theatre
back in 1991.
“The production completely sold
out, and thousands of people could
n’t get tickets,” remembers Alex
Mustakas, artistic director. “This is
our chance to rekindle the magic and
introduce -a brand new audience to a
long-forgotten era of entertain
ment.”
Vaudeville! is a fast-paced 90 min
utes of song, dance, corny one-lin
ers, slapstick and novelty gags. The
show is divided into several sec
tions, beginning with the early days
of vaudeville. Audiences young and
old will appreciate signature songs
such as George M. Cohan’s Yankee
Doodle Dandy, Eddie Cantor’s If
You Knew Susie and a medley of Al
Jolson tunes. ’
Vaudeville! also explores the war
years, and the transition from stage
to the silver screen with a dynamite
tribute to the legendary Fred Astaire.
Kraig-Paul Proulx starts the pro
duction off on the right foot as an
old vaudeville theatre janitor remi
niscing about the wonderful old
days of music and laughter.
Karen K. Edissi appears in a com
edy sketch about an opera singer
who has lost her voice, then sings
The Man That Got Away, and Don’t
Rain On My Parade.
Michael Donald and Nicole
Bourgeois clown in Abadaba, and
also do a tap-dance routine with
Katie Grube. Grube does a tribute to
Helen Kane with I Want To Be
Loved By You, while Donald and
Bourgeois sing classic war tunes,
Say You’ll Not Forget and ’Till We
Meet Again.
The cast is rounded out by Tory
Doctor, who performs Dicky Bird.
Doctor also salutes Eddie Cantor
with If You Knew Susie.
Jackie Mustakas did the choreog
raphy and musical director is
Michael Walmsley. Set design is by
Dayton Taylor, lighting design is by
Simon Day, arid costume design is
by Agatha Knelsen.
Vaudeville! plays eight shows a
week until Aug. 23. Tickets can be
ordered by calling the Huron
Country Playhouse Box Office at
(519) 238-6000 or toll free at
1-888-449-4463. Visit www.huron-
countryplayhouse.com.
d CMwtiui fbanu
for the forthcoming
marriage of
<3
3
T.o.’cthco.mitig.
CARRIERE - DILWORTH
Robert and Peggy Kropf
and
Mary and Roger Dilworth
are pleased to announce the
forthcoming marriage of
their children
Mike and Krissy
on July 5, 2003
Please join us in celebrating
their new life together at an
open reception,
BM&G Community
Centre at 9 p.m.
I
(
(
(•
(■'
6 .
CO
V
<7
c>
Chris
Campbell
and Lori
French
Friday, June 27
Crystal Palace, Mitchell
Music by DJ (8 pm - 1 am)
Lunch provided
For tickets call 357-4359
or 357-1648
sn&asi
n
ki
n
KI
fj
KI
fj
KI
FJ
KI
fj
KI
fj
KI
fj
KI
n
KI
fj
KI
n
KI
n
KIwi
KI
FJ
KI
Sbo-ttHco-ming.
Mavtia^e
Rick & Jo-Ann McDonald
are pleased to announce
the forthcoming marriage
of their daughter
Lee Ann Marie
to
Jason Richard
son of
Richard and Brenda Konarski
The ceremony will take place
on Saturday, July 5, 2003
at three o'clock in the after
noon at the home of the
bride's parents.
MS lives here.
Multiple sclerosis never hits
just one person.
It affects the entire family.
Multiple Sclerosis
Society of Canada
1-800-268-7582 www.mssociety.ca
^Forthcoming Marriage !
Bob & Clara Blake
together with
Dave Dale and
Terri-Lynn Hart
would like to announce the
forthcoming marriage
of their children
Kerry Elizabeth
to
Andrew Ronald Achille
on July 12, 2003
at Brussels St Ambrose
Church at 3 p.m. with an
open reception to Jolio w at
9 p.m. at the Brussels, Morris
& Grey Community Centre