The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-24, Page 24FADE
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4161kTALATAR, WEDNESDAY, APR11424,19$i
Play doesn't an
IW SUSAN HUNDFRTMARK.
Can the optimistic ideals of the 1,960's sur-
vive in the practical 80's? That's the ques-
tion playwrights Keith Roulston and Uwe
Meyer attempted to answer using humor
and lively music in the play T.G.I.F. at
Theatre Circle, Blyth from Apr. 18 to 20.
On Friday night at Hank's Bar and Grill,
Hank (Anthony Sphatzky) is hoping to com-
pete with the strippers at the bar across the
street so he can -pay the banker. His
waitresses include Mandy, who'd rather be
singing than waitressing and Marylou a
single parent who spends half her time on
the phone keeping the peace at home.
Robyn Sheppard plays the starry-eyed
Mandy, a 22 -year-old aspiring singer who
wishes there was more to life than making
money. Black and blue from the pinches of
lecherous customers, it's not surprising,
when she decks Hank's bank manager for
making a pass at her.
Off -setting Mandy's strident idealism is
the meiowed Marylou, beautifully played
by Barbara Muller. She's had the idealism
Wrung out of her by an absent husband who
ENT BRIE
saver questions
a,,ways sa*d he'd change out never did. She
looks at life with a sense of humor that's
sometimes bitterly sarcastic but more often
just amused.
One of the funniest scenes of the play oc-
curs when Marylou tries to squeeze into one
of the skimpy costumes Hank wants the
waitresses to wear to help business. After a
lot of grunting and groaning behind a wildly
flying curtain, Hank tells her to give up
since she'd wipe out half the customers if
the zipper broke.
Mandy is horrified to learn she must wear
her, costume anyway. Willie T. Nashville,
played by Ian MacDonald, stumbles on the
scene just in time to become a target for a
well -aimed beer after he whistles ap-
preciatively at Mandy.
Willie T. (which stands for Texas or
Teeswater depending on where he's play-
ing) has a hit record playing on CKNX
Radio called You Broke My Heart So Now
I'm Back With An Eighteen -Wheeler Full Of
Crazy Glue. Another child of the -60's, Willie
does his best to help Mandy get a chance on
the stage because she's still idealistic in the
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wits
practical 80's.
While Willie's character can be a bit one-
ciiniensional at times this philosophiziing.
about dreams and ideals gets tedious), his
music is anything but. The play shines dur-
ing the five songs of which Ian MacDonald
wrote both the lyrics and music.
Anthony Schatsky's character, Hank is
also orae -dimensional when he continuously
rants and raves at his waitresses to get to
work while his face turns bright red and the
blood vessels pop out on his neck. His drea'?n
of owning a hotel has soured with the
economic realities of a demanding bank
manager. However, he also shines when we
get a glimpse at his dreams during the
musical number, "It's The Best Place To
Go."
The play'never succeeds in answering any
philosophical questions about the ideals of
the 60's but it does provide some great enter-
tainment. Thank God It's Friday or T.G.I.F.
helps us forget about our week. -day pro-
blems at work and laugh along with the
characters' situations we can easily
recognize from our own lives.
y
WALKERTON
HOME & GARDEN SHOW
MAY 3, 4, & 5, 1985
Friday, May 3 2 pm - 9 pm
Saturday, ;May 4, 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday, May 5, 12 noon - 6 pm
NUMEROUS DOOR PRIZES.
WALKERTON
HOME
& GARDEN
SHOW
Walkerton
Community
Centre
lialmyamt
vote
✓ CONCERNED ✓ COMMITTED
✓ DEPENDABLE ✓ ACCOUNTABLE
cyan Smit
For an ACCESSIBLE
and EFFECTIVE voice
for the riding of
Huron -Middlesex...
vote BRYAN S-MITH
PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE
TO QUEEN'S PARK, MAY 2N0
CAMPAIGN OFFICES
Goderich
524-4252
Exeter
235-2579
Clinton
482-5078
Lucan
227-1111 or 227-1118
Seaforth
527-0386
Parkhill
;94-0367
Robyn Sheppard (Mandy) cools off an overly -amorous Ian
MacDonald (Willie) in a scene from T.G.I.F. Barbara Muller and
Anthony Schatzky watch.
Blyth Festival announces
children's concert series
Once again, the Blyth Festival is presen-
ting a fun -filled Fall and Spring series for
4 children - at the incredibly low price of $8 for
the series (three events). Single tickets. are
$4 each.
The Children's Series will kick off with an.
exciting concert by Kim and Jerry Brodey
on October 19, at 2 p.m. Kim and Jerry's
concerts are full of music, fun, and high
energy. They play a variety of musical in-
struments, backed by a synthesizer, and
have recently released a children's album
titled "Simple Magic."
Christmas for Carol on December 7, at 2
p.m. comes to Blyth from the Victoria
Playhouse in Petrolia. Christmas for Carol
mixes music, live actors, and puppets to tell
the story of a -'young girl who runs away
from home on Christmas Eve and becomes
lost in the woods. Through a sprinkling of
magic, the animals show her what
Christmas means to them. She • learns
something new about Christmas - but not
before she encounters villains, heroes, and
the inevitable close escape.
The third event in the Children's Series is
Peter and the Wolf on March 15, 1986, at 2
p.m., told with puppets and. mask by Mer-
maid Theatre - they brought the very
popular "Just So Stories" to Blyth last year!
They use a synthesizer to recreate Pro-
kofiev's famous musical score and have
transplanted the story from Russia to con-
temporary Nova Scotia.
Previous Children's Series holders may
renew their, seats from April 21 - May 10.
After May 13, members of the general
public may purchase series tickets, and
single tickets will be on sale. PleaSe contact
the Blyth Festival Box Office for further in-
formation and reservations: 523-9300 or 523-
9225.
HURON -MIDDLESEX PROGRESSIVE
CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION
invites you & your family to join
BETH & BRYAN SMITH
for FREE ham on a bun, from
5pmto7pm
at the following locations....
Exeter & Area Community Centre
- Friday April -26...
North St. United Church, Goderich
Monday April 29
Lucan Community Centre
Tuesday April 30
Bayfield Lions Club
JUMBO
BINGO
at the Bayfield Arena
EVERY FRIDAY.
starting Friday, May 3
* 20 Regular Games
* 2 Share -the -Wealth
* 1 Winner -take -all game
* Grand Prize Jackpot
each night -'300.
DOORS OPEN AT 6:30 PM
EARLY BIRD GAMES
START AT 7:45 PM
BINGO STARTS AT 8 PM
Admission 16 years of age and over
Proceeds to community work