Times-Advocate, 1988-06-29, Page 7(AJ
(N)
PART OF THE CAST - The cast of "A Funny Thing Happened On The
Way To The Forum" now playing at the Huron Country Playhouse includes
Christopher Barry (lett), David Nairn, Donald Saunders, and David Mallis.
Times -Advocate, June 29, 1988 Page 7
'The Cookie War' a light snack
BLYTI1 - The Cookie liar, the
opening salvo in the 1988 Blyth
Festival, is more a skirmish than
a raging battle. The ammunition
is fired from an air rifle rather than
a cannon, and is aimed at comic
entertainment, not deep and heavy
drama.
Based on the real life experience
of Edna Staebler, author of Food
That Really Schmecks and
Schmecks Appeal, the plot pits
some 'Old Order Mennonites
against a pair of high-powered New
York lawyers representing two
huge food conglomerates in' a fight
over a cookie recipe.
Tho battleground is a cleverly de-
signed stage that is quickly trans-
' formed from gift shop to Mennon-
ite kitchen by skilful lighting, and
the moving of a eouple of ladder -
back chairs and black cloth caps by
the last actor to leave the scene.
Donna.Farron turns in a stellar
performance as May Reimer, a
lapsed Mennonite who has retained
her strong links among her Old Or-
der friends. May sets off the ac-
tion by accepting a cheque to assist
one of the warring factions. Her
motives are the best the money
will be used to fight Rhineland's
mayor, about to tum the old Men-
nonite marketplace into a develop-
ment - but events lead relentlessly
to a breach of friendship between
herself and Addie Weber, her dearest
friend.
The Mennonite family comprised
of Addie, stoic husband Jacdb (John
Kocnsgen) and young Eliza (Severn
Thompson) _ standing tremulously
on the verge of womanhood, are
portrayed sympathetically, with re-
spect for traditions that forbid testi-
fying in court or having one's pic-
ture taken.
The growing relationship between
May's son Ben (Andrew Wheeler). a
superb artisan staying close to
home because of the symptoms
caused by Tourette's Syndrome, and
lawyer Judith O'Brien needs more
foreshadowing before a marriage is
suddenly sprung on the audience.
Vaughn Fulford provides comic
relief as the opposing lawyer, -at
home in the boardroom, but on ali-
en ground in,a cow pasture.
• The big -town lawyers, with the
latest in ploys and custnarts, arc no
match for the age-old values and tra-
ditions of the not -so -naive small
towncrs. Aggressive, no -holds -
barred Americans arc,pittcd against
"small -potato" Canadians. The
good guys win, and all ends happily
if anticlimactically.
l'heehumour is gentle, provoking
knowing'chuckles rather than belly
laughs, as when Ben explains that
he prefers "the. bolts in front of me
to a frontal lobotomy".
The Cookie Wai is an evening of
light entcrtainnlnt, a refreshing
snack. Don't go expecting a steak
dinner.
THEATRE BUFFS - Mayor Tom Gosnell and his wife Laurel were among
the capacity crowd for the premier performance of "A Funny Thing Hap-
pened on the Way to the Forum" at the Huron Country Playhouse. They
stopped to chat with general manager Tim Davisson before the show.
'Forumopens season
GRAND BEND - The action was
fast and frenetic on the stage of the
Huron Country Playhouse for the
opening performance of the 1988.
season. That hoary old chestnut
"A Funny Thing Happened on the
Way to the Forum" tops this year's
playbill.
The Stephen Sondhcim musical,
based on slapstick comedy reaching
back to ancient Rome, premiered
in Ncw York in 1962 and was later
made into a movie.
The ribald comedy has some-
thing for all lovers -of this typc'of
farce - cheesecake, beefcake, eu-
nuchs and nubile maidens, mistak-
en identity and lots of nudge -
nudge, wink -wink verbal and visu-
al humour.
The gags and grimaces, groping
and galloping, arc all part of the
story of a deviously clever slave
determined to win his freedom by
somehow bringing together his
owner hero, a young Roman aris-
tc rat,. and the virgin courtesan
Philia, already sold to the egotisti-
cal soldier Miles Gloriosus by Ly-
cus, keeper of the local bordello.
Mix • in hero's aging but still
lusty father, henpecked by a bat-
tle-axe wife, add chief slave Hysteri-
um and a father seeking the son and
daughter kidnapped long ago, and
the result proves the truth of Robert
Burns' dictum: Oh, what a tangled
web we weave, when first we prac-
tice to deceive.
David Mattis in the pivotal role
of Pscudolus is constantly on the
move, working like the proverbial
slave to keep the plot boiling.
Watching the gaudily costumes ac-
tors cavort around the psychedelic
stage was like a two-hour view
through a kalaidescope.
This was the main draw -back of
the first performance. Everyone
seemed to be exerting extreme effort
to make the musical work. With
apologies to Shakespeare, perhaps
the fault..lies not in our stars but in
the choice of vehicle the cast tries
so valiantly to keep revved up.
If you like your humour broad and
basic, and long for the reincarna-
tion of The Three Stooges, the.
Marx Brothers and Mack Sennett
m los, "A Funny Thing Happened
n the Way to the Forum" is for
you.
YOUR GUIDE TO PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL SERVICES
Sharon s Hair Styles
235-2089
No appts. necessary
Tues., - Fri. only
Opcn - • 9-6 Sat. 9-2 • Wcd. 9-7
249 Main St., Exeter
CONCEPT
:h.. .. 11 •••r
•Unisex styling • Waxing
235-2455
Valu Mart Plaza • Exeter
Mary
Anne's
Hair Shoppe
83 Oxford St., HensalT, Ont.
262-2127
"The Friendliest
Shop inTown"
RUMOR'S
'Unisex Hair Design
• Complete Hair Care
Service
• Open six dcys o week
• Appointments not
always necessary
Coi Jane' Sandy or Laurie
235-0202
Centra Mall, Exeter
IGIFE TH A T
HAM
Angie's Personal
Touch
250 Main St. S. Exeter
235-1792
"Complete Family Hair Care"
Tanning sessions available
oycee's
UNISEX HAIR OESIGN
Joyce Maver
7 James St.,
j 235-2320
titaryhelen's
Unisex Shoppe
is Moving on July 15
to London Rd S , 4 houses south o
Pentecostal Church
We will be closed on Ju 14
and re -open July 27
under our new name
Shalome Hair Fashions
owned and operated by Maryheten
235-0782
ask tor Maryhelen or Sylvia
Klip 'N Kurl
HAIR DESIGN
262-3048
Family
Hairstyling
Appts. not always
necessary
Main St. Hensel!
Consult any of these
professionals for expert
advice for the
WV 704A,
C
'ANN BAYNHAM
Esthetician
Facials Eyebrows
Electrolysis Lash & Brow Tints
Manicures Suntanning
Waxing Cosmetics
235-0421
346 Main St.. Exeter
BLYTH OFFERING - Shown in a scene from "The Cookie War", the pre-
miere performance at this year's Blyth Festival, are Judith Orban (left)
John Koensgen, Donna Farron and Laurel Paetz.
SHARING A JOKE - Don McCaffrey was at the door of the Blyth Com-.
munity Centre auditorium to greet Edna Staebler, guest spisaker at the din-
• ner which preceded the premier performance of "The Cookie War" at the
Blyth Festival. The play is based on a true incident which involved Stae-
bler in a lawsuit between two multinational food companies.
Visscher Farms
Country Market
Open 9 - 6 daily Fri., 9 - 8 p.m.
Closed Sundays
Specializing in cauliflower and loccoli, cucumbers,
tomatoes, cabbage, mini carrots, all -Ontario produce
Baked goods, jams and honey
3 miles W. of Exeter on Hwy. 83
Phone 237-3443
Free coffee
Special of the Week
Apple Pte $2.25
PRICES EFFECTIVE UNTIL JULY 2, 1988
ITEMS AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE QUANTITIES LAST.
193 Main St., Exeter
Mon. Tues. Wed. & Sat. 9 - 6
OPEN 9 - 9 Thurs. & Frt. ,
C--1
VISI
HOT WEATHER
1111111!!111111, 1111. 1111„„1111 1111E
EXPLOSION
4, -OFF
To 2
1/2 PRICE
BOYS'
SHORT SETS
A sleeveless mesh top adds a cool
touch to these colorful sets!
Sizes: 8-14
• $5.99
REG. $11.99 111111, SET
1/2 PRICE
LADIES'
ESPADRILLES
Fashion footwear with a light touch!
Choose from chintz or mesh styles In
sizes: 5-10
collectively.
REG. $12.99
$6.49
PAIR
1/3 OFF
MEN'S CHAMBRAY
PANTS
Pleated pants have a lightweight feel
and stylish look! Fashion colors in
sizes: 28-38
:.$I5.99
REG. $24.99
1/3
OFF
BOYS' CASUAL
PANTS
Fashionable styles, comfortable
designs! Choose now' from se-
lected looks in cotton and poly-
ester/cotton. Sizes: 7-16.
1/3 OFF
LADIES' T-SHIRTS
Choose from a wide variety,�ppf styles
with this season's latest faiftion fea-
tures! Sizes:'S. M, L.
REG. $14.99
$9.99
1/3-1/2 OFF
MEN'S & LADIES'
SUMMER HATS
Top off your Summer in one of
our many caps or hats! Choose
from selected styles.
GREAT LOOKS COST LESS AT SAAN!