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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-05-15, Page 22knights of Col bus HALL FOR RENT Any Occasions Moth. 5244212 or 524.4150 The children of Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Veldbuis--tare--happy to annouaice--.srd the 59th Wedding Anniversary of 7,91 their parents May 23, 1985. They will be honored at a family dinner Fri., May 24th, 1985. Deluxe Motorcoach.Excursion to THE NATIONAL THRESFRS ASSOC. 41st Annual Reunion Fulton County Fairgrounds, Wauseon, Ohio. Display and operation of antique farm machinery with daily threshing. Date: Sat., June 29, 1985 returns Monday, July 1, 1985 Location: Wauseon, Ohio FOR RESERVATIONS CONTACT Ray Hallahan Office 523-9256 Home 357.3583 Sponsored by Robin Hood Tours Don't Forget Our "ALL YOU CAN EAT" NOON BUFFET EVERY THURSDAY & FRIDAY Featuring the Candlelight's Own Salad Bar and Dessert Table. OPEN MONDAY VICTORIA DAY, MAY 20th "54/. THE Q RESTAURANT & TAVERN BAYFIELD RD., GODERICH 524-7711 M M TIGER TICK TS California Angels vs. Detroit Tigers SAT. JUNE .1 or SUN. JUNE 2 Phone Lower Deck Et24-4620 1 Reserve $10 N 1 emt. & S4t1. S a,Cy unek to announce tfe �/n9aCJ• /E /nEn/,t Of tIi iY d 9htE2 1zeif1' t. _fatty �on of ,. 11z.�T s (Its. Ivirz l�aee '7hE wEa//my wifl'tuhE /2lu�E 1 lay ,sth at 4:00 I2 -i72. St. 6 iEozye'i nctli_a'z �huzch z_WEception at ('andlehyht ELM HAVEN MOTOR HOTEL Highway No. t west, Clinton PRESENTS MAYHEM featuring Sue MacDonald THURS., FRI., SAT. May 16th, 17th, 18th TAKE OUT A MORTGAGE OR LOANt AND ENTER THE SWE pSTAKES F CHEVROLE(Blyth to host competition for artists INITE,ERTAINIVIE1NT Side Effects shows women are victims of drug industry SUSAN HUNDERTMARIK A young, single career womitn, a middle- aged housewife whose children ha'e grown up and a young mother of six sit in A waiting room at their doctor's office with one thing in common—as women they're all victims of the health care system and the phar- maceutical industry. Side Effects, performed at Blyth Theatre last Tuesday night, bombards the audience from start to finish with frightening facts and chilling real life stories of women who have suffered at the hands of doctors who are eager to write prescriptions to cure every ill and profit -hungry pharmaceutical companies that push so-called wonder drugs onto the market without adequate testing. Performed by a cast of five talented and versatile women playing various roles, the play uses drama, song and monologues to portray the situations of both Canadian -and- -- third world women. It visits the offices of the president of a multi -national pharmeutical company, the doctor's office, the homes of various Canadian women and the villages of Bangladesh. Mitzi Hauser plays Granny, an old healer woman who's been around "since this dance has been going on." Granny is by, far the funniest character and she injects humor and wisdom when the facts threaten to throw too much gloom over the play. She chastises the audience for in- stinctively consuming the "pills" handed out at the door at the beginning of the play. The incident illustrates how little we think about the drugs we take solely because our doctors prescribe them. She also causes a rousing cheer from the mainly female audience when she peers out from the stage and asks, "How many vasec- tomies have we got here tonight?" When one brave man puts up his hand, he becomes the object.of much applause. In contrast to that telling question, the au- dience learns of a 20 -year-old woman who dies from a blood clot in her lung, a side ef- fect from taking the birth control pill. Almost every member of the cast gets a stab at parodying doctors who regard women as childish, ignorant hypochon- driacs. When one woman asks her doctor about estrogen causing cancer, her doctor says he hasn't seen any evidence to con- vince him and has the final word by asser- ting, "My dear, if I had a dry vagina, I'd take it myself." Most of the doctors are uninterested in their patients. After handing a prescription for tranquilizers to their patients, they say, "That's a good girl; I want to see you smil- ing next time." Songs with lyrics such as "Doctor, may I take a giant step," and "Take two and if the feeling doesn't fit you to a tee, take three," add to the feeling of women's helplessness over their health portrayed in the play. The story of Mary Ann, played by Laurie Fyffe, is a particularly sad one. A nurse Who becomes addicted to tranquilizers, she ultimately loses her job after 15 years, receives shock therapy ata psychiatric Granny, played by Mitzi Hauser, is indignant when health care professionals (Josee Beaulieu, Heather Esdon and Laurie Tyffe) insist she's not as healthy as she says she is in Side Effects, which was performed in Blyth and sponsored by Women Today last Tuesday. (photo by Alison Burns) hospital and attempts suicide. She then begins the long, hard process of withdrawal from valium which Granny tells us is harder than withdrawing from heroin. "It's like pouring kerosene over your body and lighting yourself on fire," she says. The great acting skills of Heather Esdon allows us to believe her both as the ruthless C.B., president of Drugs For All, the multi- national pharmaceutical corporation and the wishy washy housewife Margaret suffer- ing from empty nest syndrome. Profit -hungry and insensitive, C.B. targets women around the world as the chief target for making money under the guise of "health for all." When a drug causes 200 deaths, he calls it something else and puts it back on the market. When a drug is banned, he dumps it in a third world country by ex- porting the ingredients and reassembling them there. His slick advertising campaigns convince poverty-stricken women in Bangladesh to sell their chickens to buy steroids which are billed as the cure to malnutrition and hunger. In reality, the side effects of steroids are irreversible masculinization of girls, damage to liver and kidneys and stunted growth. It's scary to watch as he bounces a. beach ball with the globe printed on the outside while stating he has the health oil the whole world in his hands. When the cast protrays the stories of the women of Bangladesh, the actions) of the pharmaceutical company are even more horrifying since they are so blatant. A federal law limiting the number of children in each family forces women to go to the family planning clinic where doctors per- form tubal ligations with a local anaesthetic. One woman, her hands and legs tied down to the operating table, is operated on before the anaesthetic takes effect and when she screams in pain, the doctor slaps her and tells her to be still. The audience learns that some doctors brag they can do a tubal in five minutes. • Side Effects is a co -production of Women's Health Interaction (WHI) and The Great Canadian Theatre Company and is. touring Canada this year. It appeared in Blyth through the sponsorship of Women To- day. "We're here to 'needle you to start ques- tioning the kinds of drugs you take and to become more knowledgeable about your health," said Mary Ann Haywood of WHI during a discussion after the play. And, needle us, it did. Along with the entertainment value, Side Effects makes you sad, angry, shocked, horrified, em- pathetic and even amused. But, it's main ac- complishment is to make you think...and possibly to act. - ro wnplays.pr�duced Bl th oY g in manytheatres across Canada Cake -Walk was the first professional pro- duction of one of Curran's scripts: Follow- ing its success, she was invited to be playwright -in -residence at Centaur Theatre in Montreal. Her latest work, Moose Coun- ty, will be premiered at the Blyth Festival this summer. And last, but by no means least, there is - Garrison's Garage by' Ted Johns! Tliis hilarious comedy was the blockbuster hit of the 1984 season. Garage returns to the Blyth Festival stage this summer fer a three week run before heading out on a seven -week tour of Ontario and New Brunswick. The Blyth Festival production of Garrison's Garage will be the opening play of Theatre New Brunswick's 1985-86 season. Garrison's Gai age, Cake -Walk, and Inside Out were all directed by the Blyth Festival's new Artistic Director, Katherine Kaszas. TheBlyth Festival -prides itself on-produc-- ing excellent Canadian theatre, in par- ticular in encouraging and nurturing new works. It is always rewarding when "our" plays go on to be produced in theatres across Canada. In what must be a record for any theatre, five plays which were either premiered or workshopped at the -'Blyth Festival last summer have been picked up by other theatres as part of their regular seasons. Layne Coleman's humourous and touching play, Blue City, follows the trials and tribulations of the members of a women's softball team in a small communi- ty. Blue City will be the opening play of Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille in the fall. Cue For Treason, Geoffrey Trease's popular, novel, was skillfully adapted by David - Stewart Cram for our children's workshop last summer. The„young actors gave five spirited performances of the finished play to enthusiastic audiences. Craig's adaptation of Cue rcr Treason is to be produced at Young People's Theatre in Toronto as part of its 1985-86 season. Pamela Boyd's disturbing look at the life of a single mother, Inside Out, was workshopped at Blyth last summer. It will receive its world premiere production at Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space in Toronto, as part of its coming season. Cake -Walk by Colleen Curran, a delicious comedy about a. cake -baking competition, will be produced this summer at the Kawar- tha Festival in Lindsay, and also at the Sud- bury"Theatre Centre as part of its 1985-86 season. The Blyth Festival production of ,fianChandler' he,. judging the entTieST J"u7'leel awards -wilts A season to celebrate. As the Blyth be presented on opening night, June 21. Fur - Festival Gallery enters its tenth year of art ther prizes will be chosen by public ballot. exhibition, we are mounting our m'1st ex- These will be announced on July 16. Entry -citing programme -Mere 01115e""pain- forms anru—%s are available by sendirtg-a slrau tings by world-renowned artists, work by self-addressed stamped envelope to the some of Canada's most imaginative artists Blyth Festival Gallery, Box 10, Blyth, Ont., and rarely exhibited pieces by artists who NOM-1HO. All entries are welcome. deserve rccogi ffion. The second show is "*-Severar D rrf Robert 1ta&phCarmichael tEtito- Bay 1. 75 The Blyth Festival Gallery is pleased to present "Out of the Fields," the highlight of our tenth season, a major exhibition that lthr'i-be nthised- ;' -oc the rs-re- opportunity in this area to see original work by some of Canada's finest nature artists: Robert Bateman, George McLean, Ron Kingswood, Wi-lhharrrCreighton-and -George Allen. These works are truly national AT YOUR TOTAL LENDING CENTRE Whatever your reason for a loan ...a mortgage, home renovations, or a new car, we can make it happen. Plus, from now until June 15, 1985, you could win 1 of 3 fabulous Chevrolet Chevettes! Come into your nearest participating branch of The National Victoria and Grey Trust Company or The Premier Trust Company to ask for details today! THE NATIONAL VICTORIA AND GREY TRUST COMPANY Member Canada I)epostt Insurance Corporatum GODERICH 100 KINGSTON ST. 5247381 'No purchase necessary To enter, visit your nearest participating branch of The National Victoria and Grey Trust Company or The Premier Trust Company, to obtain complete contest rules and an official entry form There will be three (3) draws Entries for each draw must be deposited by April 27, May '8. and June 15. 1985 Draws will take place May 27. June 17, and July 15 1985 respectively The approximate value of each grand prize is $8.000 Selected entrants must test correctly answer. unaided. a skill -testing question This contest is open to residents of Canada 18 years of age and over, and is subject to all applicable laws Quebec residents may submit enquiries respecting the administration and awarding of prizes In the sweepstakes to the Regie des lotenes et courses du Ouebec To kick off this special year the Gallery is sions" an exhibition of work in a variety of extending an invitation to all artists to par- media. There will be sculpture, painting, treasures. ticipate in an open juried competition. We weaving, porcelain and work that defies know there are many fine artists who would description. Art in several dimensions, and like to exhibit their talerts. We are offering perhaps from several dimensions! If you them this opportunity to have their work think you've seen it all before., this one's for displayed in our summer festival of art. The you. The featured artists are David Luksha basic theme is ''anything that can be hung (Vanastra ), Rob Tetu (St. Columban 1, on a wall." A jury of Matthew Teitlebaun, Kathryn Drysdale (Montreal), Ann Roberts (curator of contemporary art, London (Conestogo ), Matthew Budden (Guelph), Regional Art (' 11 ) d Sarah Brown Rif H M'dl dl C 1 H (former curator, Durham Art Gallery ) will (Staffa ), Glenda Norgrove ( Toronto) and .a ery an o auge I I an , ,aro yrs or le Rotary Club of Goderich ROCK'N ROLL SATURDAY NIGHT Saturday May 25, 1985 SALTFORD HALL 9 pm -1 am Couples arriving between 9:00 8. 9:30pm will receive a free photo of themselves in a special 50's setting. Dress Casual (50's preferred) Tickets 812 per couple. Available at King's Book & Gift Shop Held under authority of a special occasion permit Three-day conference devoted to arts A three-day conference devoted to the theme "Winning with Change - The Arts in Transition" featuring' a series of prominent arts protagonists and workshops on the arts takes place in Collingwood, Ontario, May 24- - Hosted by the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts, the conference is assisted by the Ontario Arts Council. Keynote speakers over the three-day period include Edmund Bovey, Chairman of the Council for Business and the Arts, discussing business support for the arts; Mark Larratt Smith, Assistant Deputy - Minister, Ministry of Citi.enship and Culture, commenting on the Macaulay Report; usan Rubes, founder of Young People's Theatre and Ontario Arts Council Member, speaking about young audiences for the arts; and Her Worship Mayor Marion Dewar of Ottawa describing the relationship of municipal government to the arts. Workshops over the three day period will be devoted to fund raising, the role of volunteers, tourism and the arts, the growth of community arts councils, marketing the -Arts and the arts in education. r^ 0