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THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2004. PAGE 23.
Entertainment & Leisure
Theatre review
`Donnellys' makes triumphant return to Blyth
By Sarah Mann
Special to The Citizen
It's difficult to review a play that's
being mounted for the third time.
People obviously love it and I'm
sure almost everyone who will see
The Outdoor Donnellys at Blyth
Festival during the season has seen it
at least once before.
I had only seen a Young Company
version of this local saga, a few
years ago and was excited to see the
play that everyone around talks
about.
Because I was attending the
opening night dinner I missed out on
the vignettes and only saw the
grandstand show.
What really struck me about the
grandstand show was the way
humour is used as well as thoughtful
dialogue to show the Donnelly side
of the story, a side not often thought
of.
In one scene Will Donnelly, played
expertly by the Festival's artistic
Doon celebrates
Canada Day
Join the farmers and villagers at
Doon Heritage Crossroads as they
celebrate Canada's birthday on
Thursday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Admission will be free.
In 1914 the country was only 47
years old, and the patriotic feeling
was alive and well. Doon will
recapture the spirit on July 1 with a
birthday party that will have all the
traditional fun and entertainment
from the turn of the century. Musical
entertainment, an afternoon concert
by the Grand- River Brass, turn-of-
the-century games, and a free draw
for a picnic basket are all part of
Doon's Canada Day party.
The July 1 holiday was
established by statute in 1879, under
the name Dominion Day. On Oct.
27, 1982. July 1 became Canada
Day.
directbr Eric Coates, is defending the
way he has taken on different roles
when needed. "...and when we
needed a father, I was that," he says.
Words like this show that although
the Donnelly boys may have been
brutish, they still had hearts and the
ability to take on a responsibility if
need be.
Gil Garratt played the "bare
knuckled beast of Biddulph" with an
ease that allowed him to be funny
without trying. His characters antics
had the audience laughing
throughout the show.
Many of the actors had the task of
playing more than one character and
it was surprisingly not confusing.
The play was performed well enough
that the characters say each others'
names without sounding like they're
keeping everything straight for the
audience.
A stand-out performance was
given by Brendan Wall as James
Carroll, James Donnelly Jr. and
others. His energy, easy delivery, and
sheer enjoyment of being on stage
was a delight to watch.
Local resident Dale Wanless had
an important role too, driving the
stagecoach and horses throughout
the play. During one fight scene on
stage, Wanless circled the coach
around the stage providing a
magnificant background sound of
hooves galloping and whistled
commands. I shut my eyes only for a
moment to savour the sounds but
opened them quickly in fear of
missing something.
The music of fiddles, guitars, a
mandolin, 'accordian, and banjo was
provided plentifully by Anne
Lederman, Capucine Onn, Gil
Garratt, Arras Hopkins, Patrick
McManus, Brendan Wall and Shawn
Dixon.
Though the play is driven by the
powerful mystery that surrounds the
44-AP 4PAP qt-• it-AP 414
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Love your family
11,7•11,110
Donnellys it is also driven by the
actors and writers who strive to show
the many different sides to the story.
The set was minimal, using a few
risers and benches to be a table one
minute and a stagecoach the next.
The backdrop of trees and sky added
an ambiance to the set that no
designer would have been able to
create.
Napo 55th
Wedding, annineemteg
Grandpa & Grandma
(Bill & Fran Bremner)
June 25
The almost full grandstand
thanked the Blyth Festival fdr the
return of the ambitious The Outdoor
Donnellys by ending the night with a
standing ovation.
The Outdoor Donnellys runs until
July 3: For more information call the
box office at 1-877-862-5984 or call
523-9300.
,
t
9fappy 40th
Birthday
Meribeth Vlemmix
& Melanie Pletch
June 25
/
-„---
,11
.
? i ! t f
Love
Mom & Dad
Girl chaser
Blyth Festival artistic director Eric Coates as Will Donnelly
gives chase to' Maggie Kennedy (Kelly McIntosh) in The
Outdoor Donnellys, which opened the 30th season of the
Festival on Friday night. Driving the coach is area resident
Dale Wanless. (courtesy photo)