The Citizen, 2004-06-16, Page 3BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2004. PAGE 3.
Artistic director reflects on first season
A new year begins
Artistic director Eric Coates
begins his second season, a
little older, a little wiser. (Bonnie
Gropp photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
"Gone is the relaxed cavalier
young man of yesteryear."
Tongue planted firmly in cheek,
Eric Coates reflects self-effacingly
on last year, his first season as Blyth
Festival's artistic director.
While the season was for the most
part a critical success, its financial
bottom line was less than hoped for.
It has meant a harder-nosed look at
the balance sheets for Coates. He is
also taking a closer look at what's
happening with trends and cultural
activities.
"This is a little frustrating, of
course, because it's not what artists
like to spend their time doing, but it's
a reality that's very much part of the
theatre world now. Every theatre
across the board has felt the impact."
What Coates said he discovered
last year was you can't count on
anything, particularly relying on
advance sales. "More people are
waiting to make the decision about
what they want ,to see during the
season."
One way to guarantee full houses
is with the season opening return of
The Outdoor Donnellys. "I would be
less than honest if I didn't say some
of the reason for bringing it back was
financial. But it is also about popular
demand. People asked last year why
we didn't do it again. And I received
phone calls from people asking if
this is the theatre that has that
Donnelly play. You can't ignore that
kind of momentum. It tells me we're
doing something that separates us
from other theatres."
Being involved with a production
like The Outdoor Donnellys is also
"incredibly gratifying," said Coates,
referring to the high level of
community involvement. As director
for Some of the vignettes, Coates has
enjoyed the experience of working
with the volunteer actors.
"It keeps me absolutely honest.
I'm suddenly working with
peoplewho essentially speak a
different language than me. I must be
very clear in what I'm asking. It's a
great way to clarify my own
approach."
It also is giving him one more hat
to wear in the busy pre-season.
While preparing for his return as
Will Donnelly, he is also gearing up
for a new role, as Earl in Dave
Carley's Test Drive. "I'm looking
forward to it. The people working on
this are some of my favourite on the
planet."
Director Miles Potter, says Coates,
"is pound for pound one of the
strongest directors anywhere."
The only directing Coates is doing
this year with the exception of the
vignettes, is the radio play The Train
being broadcast as part of the 30th
season celebration.
Coates is also looking ahead to a
new season, reading through piles of
scripts to plan for 2005. "After
rehearsing I unwind by reading a
script. 1 have to be honest it's not
always how I want to spend my
evening, but I have a responsibility
to the people who send them to me."
It is in those quiet evening hours
that Coates strives to discover the
magic for Blyth. Audiences have
said they like comedy, yet in reality
dramas seem to be better received.
"People just want to be entertained.
We try to constantly define what that
entertainment is that they're looking
for. It seems to me the audience can
take a trip in an unhappy play as long
as it's not a volatile play. I have to be
sensitive to this."
"It means I shop very hard and
thoroughly for the next great
comedy."
That lesson was hard learned last
year. "I thought Leaving Home (one
of a series of plays by David French)
was remarkably well done and its
failure to win people over as a really
objective look at family life
surprised me. But more than that I
was surprised by the volatile
response from some who saw it
somehow as promoting abusive
relationships."
That reaction prompted action on
Coates's p.art. "I backed away from a
long-term plan and rather than
French's Of the Fields Lately, we're
doing Salt-Water Moon, to see if
people would care to see the other
side of this beautiful, romantic
comedy."
When people do care about what
they see on stage it's magic, for
them, and for those responsible.
"When you realize something's
going to take off, it's often in the first-
five minutes of the first public
performance.".
"That was the case with Having
Hope at Home, last year. Within
seconds of the opening you knew it
was a hit. And for us, who have put
so much into it, to see that kind of
reaction your heart does respond."
Its success, said Coates, is a
feather in the Festival's cap. "It was
picked up • immediately for
production at other theatres."
Another highlight is this year's
anniversary celebrations. "It's
exciting on the whole, but I'm really
looking forward to the first Bonanza
Weekend. There are things
happening that are meant to celebrate
the entire Centre for the Arts."
Something else that's new is a
concert by the Blyth Festival Singers
as part of the season. "I'm not ever
tired of talking about the am, zing
fact that in this little village there is a
theatre, concert choir, orchestra and
art gallery."
While Coates may be entering his
second -season as artistic director a
little wiser, he continues to dream
big things for the Festival he loves.
As he describes Earl, the character
he plays in Test Drive it comes
somewhat close to Coates.
"Earl is every man, who thinks
he's had no real effect on people who
have travelled through his life. At
some point we should all have a clear
vision of what we've done."
McKILLOP MUTUAL
INSURANCE COMPANY
Best Wishes for another great season!
*Box 819, 91 Main Street S.
Seaforth, Ontario NOK IWO
Office: (519) 527-0400
1-800-463-9204
Fax: (519) 527-2777
Appearing in 2004
some of Myth's favourite artists return for
Anniversary Season
Janet
Amos
X OFFICE -877-862-5984
www.blythfestival.corn
Artistic Director Jerry
Eric Coates tIq
004 Season June 16 — September 4
The Outdoor Donnellys
by Paul Thompson, Janet Amos & Co.
"A magnificent achievement."*
June 16 - July 3
Heat Wave
by Michel Marc Bouchard
saucy bedroom farce...
July 7 - Aug. 20
Spirit of the Narrows
\piW
A
zoe\- by Anne Lederman
0,0 powerful fiddling jamboree
July 20 - July 23
Ted
Johns
Salt-Water Moon
by David French
an enduring 5 engaging love story
July 14 - Aug. 21
Test Drive by Dave Carley
a heartwarming journey
of a life well lived
Aug. i I - Sept. 4
Cricket and Claudette
by Ted Johns
knockout laughs at the landfill ...
Aug. 4 - Sept. 4
* Robert Reid, K-W Record
P.O. Box 10, BLYTH, Ontario NOM I HO 519-523-9300 / toll free I -877-862-5984
www.blythfestival.com
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Paul
Thompson