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Times-Advocate, 1985-08-28, Page 20• "1.4 • i <;• • •••j • '1 G NEW DIRECTOR =- Huron Country Playhouse has announced the ap- pointment of Steven Schipper as their new artistic director. He's shown chatting here over future plans for the Playhouse with general manager Heather Redick. Photo by Richman Stagefright brings. fantasies to reality What were your fantasies when you were 21 -and did you ever try to make any of them reality'' The pubescent Claire, who fancies. herself as some kind' of - writer -director -performer decides to stage a play. indulged with her uncle's money, to make her state- ment about real life. Enter Trudy and Derek - A.K.A. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers - the famous song and dance team. idoliz- ed by Claire. but who through divorce are no longer a team. The stage is now set for any number of complications, entanglements or portrayals of life's little foibles. The musical "Stagefright" at Playhouse 41; t running from August 20 to August 31) does just that. Therein lies perhaps the only problem - the play tries to deal with too many aspects of human frailties , hits too many response chords. The characterizations by the three performers in the cast Were absolute- ' ly dead on stereotypes. Janet MacEwen as Claire had just the right amount of enthusiasm and reticence for the ingenue, her wide-eyed in- nocence being enhanced with horn - rimmed glasses. - David Nairn managed to give his portrayal of Derek a smooth debon- naire, man -about -town flavour. Alicia Jeffery as Trudy has just the right deep -throated- laugh -and downward curl of the mouth to play the perfect flippant wit, dripping with sarcasm. that one wonders if shewas typecast. The musical comedy is what author Jim Betts does best t by his own ad- mission). Parodies of three famous plays - Don Giovanni, A Doll's House. and Private Lives - gives Betts am- ple opportunity to present "musicals within -a musical-,. The 25 tunes are melodic, humable and cleverly pac- ed moving from lyrical t"I've never made love before" t to a breathless ditty ("1003" ) that conjures up the old silent movies music, to shades of West Side Story in "Tonight is the Night". It's all original yet somehow familiar. In the opening scenes the sardonic Trudy explains. "Nobody listens to the lyrics"! Yet the dialogue both in the musical numbers and between them is what moves the play along. Willy humour. clever repartee. flip metaphors. and simple satire all come together to entertain to the fullest. There's a humourous look at just about.every problem each of us has had sometime in our lives, and this play shows us how to laugh at ourselves. "It's a show about growing up and dealing with the various stages in life" said Belts. The song about tur- ning :to is taken from life experience". This Toronto born and eduated musical comedy writer o has something to say and he has chosen to stay in Canada to (10 it. He con- tributes as president of the Guild of Canadian Musical Theatre Writers and is Artistic Director of The (:roup of Several. a Canadian amateur musical Theatre group. To quote actress Alicia Jeffery... "with most rnusicals today. you usually have either good music or good lyrics. but in the case of Stagefright. both are terrific. and it's all -Canadian too." - Jim Belts. his co -writer and wife ('atherine Knights. his choreographer (.len Kotyk. his musical director Michael Mlulrooney and his per- formers have made it so. Ellwood Reunion A special neighbour, both in Highlands no. 2 and in Exeter. Mrs. Ruth Ellwood celebrated a special birthday this past May (hint... she had to try her driver's licence test again and passed with flying colours. ) Although belatedly, the occasion was marked with a family reunion Sunday at her Lake Iluron cottage. Son Don Ellwood and his wife Sue arrived from Ottawa to visit for a few days; other son Bob Ellwood, his wife Betty and their daughter Jennifer came from their new home in St. Catherines. Jenny was accompanied by her friend Natasha Miller -Fenn from Burlington. Mrs. Ellwood's grandson Doug also of St. Catherines brought his- friend Astrid Goodman of Vineland; Doug's older brother Steve and wife Lynn Ellwood came from London. Also from London were Nell Ellwood. Rod and Anne Hart and Joan Lacount, Professor Harry Ferguson and his wife Madeline (Mrs. E's niece) walked over from their Highlands no. 1 cottage. From further afield, Wilbert Ellwood and wife Margaret - drove up from Mississauga. Bob and Beryl Elgie from Exeter. Catholic Church News A special celebrant for the Sunday morning Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was Father Bill Coughlin. brother of Mrs. Madelaine. Dalton. Fr. Coughlin was originally from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, has been down in Houston, Texas for some years, and now, to the delight of his family, has been transferred to Toronto, much closer to home. Our pastor, Father Morrissey was celebrant at the other masses. and delivered the sermon. Intellectual knowledge of a subject versus per- sonal experience is a challenge that crops up in every facet of life. We believe in God intellectually, but don't seem to experience Him emotionally. We must know God in a personal way. not just as Creator, Lawgiver. and Holy One,of the Old Testament, but as the God who loves us and lives in us. today. We must become the taber- nacle of his Spirit and receive Him in our hearts. The Catholic Women's League held a very successful bake sale oveil'the weekend leaving the Final event for the Labor Day weekend, the quilt draw raffle. Many thanks to all those who donated their baking, produce, and time - it promises to be a very profitable summer, to support the charitable work of the CWL in the community throughout the year. People you know... Grand Bend resident Mex Desjar- dine was pleasantly surprised one day last week when a former school chum Claude F allis called at his Gill Road home. The two spent. an enjoyable hour together reminiscing over the past. It has been over (i0 years since they attended public school together. Mr. Fallis, who lives in Mt. Forest. spoke proudly of his son Peter who is also a lhwyer like his father they have law offices in Mt. Forest and Durham. • Golden Age club members are reminded that their first meeting of the fall season begins on September 4. 1:30 pm.. at St. John's Parish Hall. Some Grand Bend residents, north of Pinedale reported seeing snow last Tuesday morning. Times -Advocate, August 28, 1985 Page 3A Native of Montreal Playhouse names artistic director The board of directors of Huron Country Playhouse have announced the appointment of Steven Schipper as artistic director designate of the Huron Country Playhouse for future seasons. After receiving many applications from some of the most talented direc- tors and theatre people in this coun- try, we carefully studied each in- dividual submission. Each applicant was asked to present a proposal for future seasons including special events, concerts, children's program- ming andstage productions as well as the applicant's long range plans for themselves and the theatre. "The board found this decision to be a most difficult one", says David Sheppard, chairman of the board. "We were looking for someone who could expand on the successes of Huron Country Playhouse by continu- ing to improve the quality of produc- tions and the artistic aims of the organization. The board of directors was very impressed with all of the candidates and narrowing down our choices was an excrutiatingly difficult decision and, monumental task." The board f directors is unanimous in its praise for Steven Schipper, the newly appointed artistic director designate and looks forward to an ex- citing working relationship in months to come". - "I am delighted to be able to live and work in Grand Bend, at. the Playhouse" says Steven Schipper. "I would like to see Huron Country Playhouse become a community and family ori>'nted entertainment centre, where programs, plays and events will achieve the highest measure of excellence and popularity." Schipper is currently directing Tropical Madness for the Shaw Festival which opened on August 15. He is also direc- ting a special video play written and performed by youth at Young Peo- ple's Theatre in Toronto as part of the National programme of the United Nation's International Youth Year and Desire,Under the Elms for Theatre Pluin Toronto. "In planning for next -year's season. I would like to bring to the Playhouse many of this country's finest actors, designers, directors and the young ar- tists destined to join these ranks", adds Steven. "I want to choose plays and events which will celebrate the magic of the theatre through joy, laughter and warmth". Schipper was torn and raised in Montreal and attended McGill University and Bishop's University before graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada. "As a stu- dent, I earned my tuition by working at a gas station in the French section of Montreal - that's where I learned Hearing, Tests No pbligotion Big V Drug Store Thurs. September 5 1 to 3 p.m. Batteries, accessories, repairs to most makes BeII,m HEARING AIQS • J.D.FAIR Hearing Aid Service 145 Ontario St.. -Stretford what 1 call 'gas station French', things like "checkez l'huile". I'm afraid I'm not fluently bilingual", says Steven. "My love of theatre began at University. 1 read the notice board al the library and decided to audition for the play, A Midsummer Night's Dream - I got a part as one of the mechanicals. Just three days after rehearsals began, one of the lead ac- tors playing the part of Lysander broke his leg and I was re -cast in his place." The Montreal Star said that the lovers were "the best part of the show, because they mumbled and stumbled their way through the play, and seemed so convincing as youth in love". "In fact", says Steven "it was James Dodding, the director of that production who ignited my desire to direct for the theatre. 1 am fortunate to have directed across Canada in- cludingproductions at the Shaw Festival, Stratford Festival, Toronto Free Theatre, Theatre Calgary, Cen- taur Theatre, 25th Street House Theatre and . Prairie Theatre Exchange": Bridge score Four and one half tables were in play at the weekly bridge game at St. Johns Parish hall. First place winners were Joan Dargent and Ev Horton; second place Verna MacDonald and Millie Harney;. third place Dorothy Child and Hazel Gibson. They played the Howell movement. 7hanh You Bob and Kathy Heywood extend their thanks and appreciation to allthose who patroniz- ed their restaurant over the past 21/2 years. Special thanks to our capable staff who assisted us in making the business a success and a very pleasant experience. - - We offer our congratulations to the new owners, Len and Steve, and wish them every - success for the future. Bob and Kathy Lynette, Aaron, Joshua By far the largest selection of quality fashions in the area. Be Sure You Enter Our FREE DRAW You could win a suit valued at '300 Our volume buying from one of Canada's 'leading manufacturers meons you con buy your new suit for much less without sacrificing any quali- ty. In fact. we are our supplier's largest indepen- dent retailer. Choose from the largest selection in the area at eosy on your budget prices. • Harris Tweed Sports Coat • Dress Pants • Dress Shirts • Sports Shirts • Winter Coats • Belts • Ties • Sweaters GUARANTEED FIT - GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE ACCLAIMED -- The musical cabaret Stagefright, now appearing at Playhouse II at Huron Country Playhouse hos been entertaining ap- preciative audiences. Starring in the production, from the left are, Alicia Jeffery. Janet MacEwen and David Nairn. T -A photo