The Goderich Signal Star, 1976-03-18, Page 27Little Theatre Maes it again
BY MANY ELLEN SA ..MON
March 11 saw the .prernier
- . 6f Sidney Howard's, "The
Late Chris-top.her Bean,
presented by the Goderich.
Little Theatre; •;.
Directed by Beth Markson, ..
the threeeact•• comedy drew
rounds •ofapplause: and; ,jIl
many.. places, rolls of
.Laughter. ,
The ":play • ran smoothly
throughout under the fine.
hand of Mrs. Markson. With
the excep.ti'on of one flaw, the
failure of voice, projection in
certain characters, Mrs.
Markson did a superb job
controlling the production.
Sidney Howard's touch for
light comedy was evident and
occasional glimpses could be
seen of the author's, intention -
to bring deeper meaning into
the. play. Albeit feebly,
Howard tried .for an 'ironic
look at today's values.
The theme of "Christopher
Bean", was,. basically, greed.
The ingenious .plot revolved
• around a dead artist. Con-
sidered an eccentric in his
small. hon e"town, his talents
weht ignored. Unknown to
everyone, he was an artist in
.demand, reinforcing, the idea
that gne dead artist'is worth
more than five alive.
With `=old Chris Bean"
dead, de''ious artistic
parasites descend to the
family. of '1Dr. • Hagget-
t" (Bean's . best friend),
played by Dr. Michael Watts,
in an attempt to pick up any
paintings left. •
The role of ' the -typical_,country doctor with' bill-..
collecting problems . could
have been written for Dr.
Watts, Complete- with
stethoscope, he even
projected a bedside manner.
>"Abby," ,the 'pretty family
maid, ;•" provided the
customary .'Deus •' Ex..
Machina', : Portra,Yed • by
Jennifer .Black, she brought
the .curtain andleftthe_
the
audience deinlg a • `dodble.
take' . with the drainatic
announcement, :"I'nx the real
MT 'were.m
There
1! 'wany
highlights in the,; show. Dr.'
Watts. and his stage wife
Kathy Jenkins were perfect
foils for one another. Mrs.
Jenkins can be compared,
especially, in.this>instance, to
actress Jean Stapleton. She
utilized a .haturalis•tic style >
and exhibited a talent -for
improvisation, creating 'a -n
image of the classic small
towh doctor's wife. •
Frank Bissett, as art dealer
"Rosen," played 'a rather
difficult role to perfection.
The scene where "Rosen"
and the .doctor discover the .
swindle created a high spot of
comedy.
A relative novice •at Little.
Theatre, Dan Worthy as
"Warren" gave a passionate
perforrhance as suitor to the
doctor's youngest- daughter,
played by Cheryl Elliott. The
passion displayed by both
characters was Much enjoyed
-
By the audience. -
Don Nichfilson in his -1'01e as
"Tallent;-" the prime
schemer, appeared very
corrifortable'in the character
he. was portraying. He
achieved a naturai'effect, •
Kudos should be `given to
Sally Walker (playing "Ada
Haggett") and. $$haron. Miller.
'(portraying` ' journalist -
"Ma well. ' • Davenport").
Along with Cheryl Elliott's'
role, theme .characterizations
seen'red. to have been wf'itteh
for flat effect. The roles didn't
allow the e<l a:radters much -
dramat'ic involvement in the
play. Dan Worthy's role -was
much the same..
Considering thiswas a `first
- ,night', when players are.
nervous,' . "The • Late
Christopher Bean was an
enjoyable evening.
This particular play, had
run into. difficulties due to.
lirnited rehearsal time and; of
course, weather conditions
don't help: Despite these
obstable.s, the production was
a success.
According to Director Beth
Maidkson; "We''re all
amateurs," but it looks like
• the Goderich Little Theatre
group is.enjoying what
they're . doing and the
'Goderich • audience is'•.. en-
joying what the Little Theatre,
is doing also: .
The Little Theatre group
designs and . makes its own
sets, handles wardrobe,
lighting and 'make-up and
many : other . things. -Along
with the actors, the
ingredients are all there for
great productions..
Beth Markson says she'd
Ake •to see more people offer
to direct. She'd like -.to see
seine historical p -lays done.
There• ale lots of ideas but the •
Little Theatre needs people;
Mrs. Markson- says, "The
more people • that get in-
volved, ' the .less time each
person has. to -give,":
The ' Little Theatre would •
like to see•volunteers out,for
set design and props. It takes
people to make things Move
and one only gets out what::
one is willing to Putin.
The neat production;, "The
Hasty. 'Heart'', :a' ,tragi-
••
.JODER C}
I. NAL -
comedy directed. by Jennifer
BJ.ack, is in the works now.
It'll be•presented sometime in
May and• auditions:.(and
Volunteering) • will. begin
March 28.
The . •Goderich Little ••
Theatre group needs YOU.
Kathy Jenkinsis horrified to learn that she's burned a:
collection • of Chris Bean .paintings'.'worth thousands of •
. dollars:to iter financially embarrassed family, Mrs. Jenkins
was at her usual best inher comedy role as Mrs. Haggett, ,.
the wife of a. small town doctor .in Goderich Little Theatre's
Iatest,production: <photo by Mary -Ellen Salmon):
Before the evening performances of•Goderich Little'Theatre got underway Iast week, the
makeup departmentwent to work on'the'cast, Here Muriel Reinhart: makes up .Dr •
Michael Wafts: for his role as• Dr.: Haggett and 'Laurie Tigert put the finishing tou•ches to
Frank Bissett's makeup•for his portrayal of:Rosen. (photo by,Mary-Ellen Salmon). '
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