Clinton News-Record, 1977-08-18, Page 12PAGE 12—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1977
Publisher's play
proves excellent
theatre fare
by Shelley McPhee
It's.more than local interest
that keeps the house full at
the Blyth Summer Festival.
Ws more than curiosity in the
'play. written by. Keith
Roulston, editor at the Blyth
Standard' brings the line u'ps..
Instead, a fire plot, ex-
acAitig Od'. an in-
, triguing setting that has
f- brought the people out see
The Shortest Distance Bet-
ween Two Points:
The play,,a'itoplcal comedy,
is one that audiences have
easily related to. The timely
plot depicts a small Western
Ontario village, much similar
to Blyth, Clinton or any local
spot that may become the
victim of a provincial super-
highway. To stop the invasion
of asphalt through the centre
of the village, the residents
declare independence and
barricade themselves in and
others out with roadblocks. A
new flag, a president and a
haphazard army formed by
the local drunk all add to the
lighthearted stabs at the
government.
R ouls ton playfully takes
pokes at the present day
government and politicians.
From the election results,
local council dilemmas, stabs
and hospital closings to
regional government the
audience eagerly laps up the
dialogue and the plot.
To compliment the well
thought out plot, fine acting
by a Festival all-star cast
makes the play an easy hit.
Brendan McKane is the
major character in the play
with his portrayal of Scottie,
the sensible village reeve and
owner of the local hardware,
business who suddenly finds
himself faced with position of
president of the independent
country of Elm Tree Valley.
Running the nation's
business from his hardware
store, turned presidential
office, Scottie must keep
order, and sanity in the
somewhat hysterical village.
Layne Coleman as the local
farmer, Charlie, also helps to
maintain sense and sanity
amongst the quarrelling and
panicky villagers and
'government officials. Charlie
remains a spectator
throughout the, play and of-
fers sarcasticand shrewd
comments on the action that
goes on about him from his
chair set in front of the wood
stove in the hardware store.
His portrayal of a local
farmer is nearly perfect even
to the way he walks and sits.
Through Charlie, the
audience is constantly kept
laughing with his abundance
of one-liners and his satirical
attitude.
From pure practicality and
logit, the characters move on
through degrees ,of hysteria,
enthusiasm 'and pure'ltinacy.
Lynda Langford as Councilor
Millie O'Brien rides a see saw
between the two contrasting
qualities. One moment she is
a true separatist who will
even blackmail Scottie with
questionable photographs to
get her way. However, in the
next instance, she seems
more logical than anyone else
around. •
Langford is also the object
-of the men's affections, from
Alfred Humphreys who plays
Jim, the small -towner who
has been infatuated with the
big city. and progress, to
Malcolm Harrison, the gung-
ho civil servant who soon
becomes disillusioned with
Premier Smilie's tactics and
proposals and turns against
the provincial government to
side with Elm Tree Valley
and his lady in the end.
Each actor has a very
important and major part in
the p1a and along with
remembering linesi-they also
must be in tune for some
rollicking and tumbling
performances in the third act,
when Hector the town drunk,
played by Richard Prevett
turns a gun on Premier
Smilie, played by Ron Barry.
The cast rolls 'about on the
floor in an exaggerated battle
to hold back the Premier and
crooked methods to put the
' highway through.
While the plot is somewhat
localized to this area, this has
not de,terred the crowds or the
laughter at the Blyth Festival
this past week for the play.
The Shortest Distance Bet-
ween Two Points will play
August 17 and 20 at 8:30 p.m.
Smile
A habit is like a soft bed, easy
to get into but difficult to get
cut of.
v.
Discount
DAVE'S
Clearance
f SUMMER
MERCHANDISE
ou
THEY
Go
All Items Not
Necessarily
Available at
All Branches
WE CAN NOT RE -ORDER ON THE MAJORITY
OF THESE ITEMS, SO BUY NOW ...
WHILE STOCKS LAST
Save 65.00
on the Club Chair
Complete with foam
cushions. Length
271/2; depth 26";
height 301/2". Our
usual Cash & Carry
44.95
SUMMER -CLEARANCE
ITEMS in this ad are on di
week only.
Sale for one
SALE ENDS AUGUST 24
Save *10.00
on the Chaise Lounge
Length 67", width 28 1/8"
Complete with sunburst
vinyl foam cushions. Our
usual piih & carry 69.95.
• ( I ‘R1.1-.\
Save *15.00 on the Tete -A -Tete
Length 641/2", depth 26", height 301/4". With
sunburst vinyl foam cushions. Our usual cash
& carry 89.95
QUALITY MADE
Manufacturcd from furniture grade Ontario White Pine, all three
pieces blend beautifully with any terrace, lawn setting or gar-
den conversation
area. They weather
evenly through all
four seasons to a
dark golden hue.
decotThe cushions are
made of high
quality sunburst
vinyl over com-
2 Ai fortable foam.
Non -Slip
HYDRA-PREST
These non -slip patio blocks are
precision made with true and
square edges that fit tightly
together. So they look better, last
longer.
'CICIOACLICICIOUljd
1-.1U t-11.11:41:1QCIAgg
LILIMLI.JULLAJW4
1LJULLLLIDLLCLC
LLILLELELLLLE
ILLLI_Lt_LLLLLL
ILLILLECLLLCC
*Al .
" 1..JILLILLLLL V11
UNIT
STEP
Here's bomething new: Rough Tim-
ber#40ey're sitoblar to railway ties in
.;hat they„can be used to enclose flower
beds, serve'as wide rustic steps, rein-
force stone walls and ever so many
other things to make your garden area
look more inviting.
And Look at
This Price ...
ROUNDED
5" x *"by 81. Our 95
usual C. & C. 7.9$
SQUARE
6" x 8" by 8'. Our
usual C. & C. 9.95
Also Available:
LARGER SIZE in 24%30"
Natural Grey at.2.59 each
COAL IrAR BASE
Means Our Black Top Sealer Resists
*Gasoline, Grease, Oil and Road Silt,
Damage And It's Simple To Apply
It may cost a little more than ordinary driveway sealer,
but Sakrete's Coal Tar Base will save you a lot of head-
aches in the years to come.
4 Gallon
Container
During
TheSale
FLAT WHITE
LATEX for
Interior or
Exterior use
Macdonald & White
VLANISN& PAINT CO LTD
WINDSOR, ONTARIO
OUR END OF
SUMMER ,
PRICE
Pine bark nuggets are used by
nurseryinen and professional
landscapers to create a rich,
warm undertone for shrubbery
and fiower beds. Helps to re-
tain moisture. They look great!
For Natural
Wood Beauty
to ENHANCE WALLS,
FLOORS or CEILING
ASK ABOUT OUR
Trojan
Board
IT'S SIMPLE
'Just pOur and
spread using a
sealer applicator
(also available
at Discount Dave's
for 2.49). A rubber
squeegee -on one
side spreads the
sealer whilep
brush on the other
side brushes it' .
out evenly.
Here's your chance to
re -shingle at an
economical price.
Available in
GREY/BLACK only
All Prices
Shown are
Cash & Carry
Not available
at all branches
'WHILE
STOCKS
LAST
Regular Hours:
8 A.M.-5:30 P.M. Monday
Thru FKiday: Sat. till 4 P.M.
EXTENDED
HOURS
at these stores
WINDSOR CENTRE (Matthew'qDAILY 8 A.M. — 6 P.M.
Including SATURDAY: THURSDAY & FRIDAY TILL 9 P.M
KITCHENER, KINCARDINE, WINDSOR EAST'and
WINDSOR WEST OPEN FRIDAY TILL 9 ?.M.: SAT. TILL 5:30P.M,
Lots .
of Free
Parking
CLEAR CEDAR OR
KNOTTY CEDAR
(Z)
Fairway Read
THEDFORD
1/2" Thick
16 Branches to Serve You:
AMHERSTBURG
EXETER
GODERICH
GRAND BEND
HARROW
KINCARDINE
KINGSVILLE
KITCHENER
1
Hwy. 21 North opp, Sutton Park
Inn. Phone 396-3403
Hwy. 82 approx. 1 1/2 miles
Phone 376-3181 West of Thedlo
736-2151
235-1422
524-8321
238-2374
738-2221
396-3403
733-2341
744-637i MATTHRWS
OWEN SOUND
RIDGETOWN
SOUTHAMPTON
THEDFORD
WEST LORNE
WINDSOR EAST
WINDSOR WEST
376-3181
674-5465
797-3245
296-4991
7681520
727-6001
734-1221
254-1143
KIICHENER Out -pt -town CsII Frosof Charge: 1400-286-8990 or 9991
;
•
tr
•
•
0 ,
•