The record, 19 avril 1996, Supplément 1

.O** X U - TOWNSHIPS WEEK Recorü Arts and Entertainment Magazine April 19-26, 1996 Galt players take a dramatic turn in Ordinary People Afra Tucker and Daniel Nerenberg.RECORD PHOTO: PERRY BEATON 2-Thè Record-TOWNSHTPS WEEK- April 19-26, 1996 TALK OF THE TOWNSHIPS Chapters still being written in Megantic Outlaw story When the oldest cask is opened And the largest lamp is lit.With weeping and with laughter Still is the story told.Macaulay The story of The Megantic Outlaw is over 100 years old now — and still growing! For the past three years, the town of Lake Megantic has hosted a ‘Tribute to the Scottish Pioneers’ in which the famous gunfight on the main street is re-enacted (more or less) and the story retold.Guided bus tours explore ‘Donald Morrison Country’.The Ministry of Cultural Affairs and the Municipality of Milan have erected historical panels at the site of his capture where there are Who's Who By Tadeusz Letarte plans for an Interpretation Centre and a ‘Donald Morrison Village’.This year, Milan is launching its own 'Donald Morrison Festival’.Toronto pipers have recorded a ‘Donald Morrison Medley’ and there is a feature-length movie in the early stages of production.Meanwhile, researchers on both sides of the Atlantic continue to shed new light on the story.Last year, the ‘Donald Morrison Fonds’ of Lake Megantic’s Bibliothèque Municipale revealed that Auguste Duquette, who bought the foreclosed Morrison farm, was not the innocent dupe he had been thought but a member of the town council and one of Mayor McAulay’s cohorts in the affair.That fact supplies the missing motive for Donald shooting through the window into the clock, which he admitted to Peter Span, and perhaps for the burning of the house and barn, which he denied to the end of his days.The story has been novelized, romanticized, dramatized, analyzed, serialized and anthologized.It is taught in schools from Victoria to St.John’s and the Canadian Encyclopedia gives it as much text as it gives Jacques Parizeau.But the key to the story lies in the insular nature of the Lewis Islanders.They had survived centuries of hard times on their bleak and isolated land only by sticking together — against warring clans, Viking invaders, Atlantic storms, failed harvests and winter blizzards.When the potato crop failed in the 1830s, the fishing turned poor and burning kelp on the beaches for potash could no longer provide a living, they decided to emigrate to Canada.But, unlike the English settlers in Bury and the Americans along the border and the Irish fleeing the famine, they did not emigrate singly or by families or small groups, but entire communities together.Almost the entire parish of Uig on the western coast crossed to Stornoway together, took ship together, landed at Port St.Francis together and took the 72 miles to Sherbrooke and the British American Land Company together.Together, they took lands in the remotest corner of the Townships.When one of their own was threatened by outside forces, they naturally closed ranks to protect him.The Lake Megantic Festival this year is scheduled for August 8, 9 and 10, while the new Milan Festival will take place June 21, 22, 23.Scots wha hae.Juno win brings results for composer MacDonald LENNOXVILLE (SM) -Juno what can happen when you win?Andrew P.MacDonald is finding out.The Lennoxville musician said he has been receiving calls from across Canada after winning the statuette honoring the best in Canadian music.His work “Concerto for violin and orchestra” won the Juno in March for best classical composition.MacDonald’s latest call is from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, which has decided to play the Toronto premiere of his symphonic poem, “Les voix éternelles, op.28” at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on May 25 during the featured concert at the conference of the association of Canadian orchestras.“I think it was a result of the Juno,” a beaming MacDonald said this week.“I’m also getting calls for new commissions.Things are happening.” Closer to home, The Gryphon Trio will play the Quebec premiere of MacDonald’s “In The Eagle's Eye” at its concert at Centennial Theatre this Saturday, April 20.It will be the chamber ^xz&mxzz nf JVustria A concert of sacred music to celebrate Austria's thousandth anniversary Under the patronage of the Honnorable Ulrike Billard, Consul General of Austria ENSEMBLE VOCAL DE L'ESTRIE and Ensemble Vocal André Martin de Quebec Mozart: Motets Bruckner: Mass in E minor for eight-part chorus Motets Choirs and Brass Ensemble under the Direction of: Andre' Martin Saturday, April 20,1996, 8:00 p.m.St-Jean-Baptiste Church 280 Conseil Street, Sherbrooke Ticket general admission, $15: reserved seating, $18 and $20 Information: 346-2343 and 846-4369 Tickets (or sale at: Biblairie GGC (65 Belvedere S.).Chaussures Grégoire and dames Butcher Shop (Lennoxville) With the kind support of CHLT 630 - Cité 102,7 Magasin H.H.Brown aefory Ou* group’s first concert at the Lennoxville theatre.The trio is composed of violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys and pianist Jamie Parker.In addition to MacDonald’s work, they will also play the Trio in D Major, op.70, no.1 (The Ghost)” by Beethoven, and the “Trio in E Minor, op.DO (Dumky)” by Dvorak.The concert will be followed byawineand cheese reception with the artists and the composer.Tickets are on sale at the Centennial Theatre box office and all Admission outlets.Tel: (819)822-9692 or 821-1000.MEN'S AND inPI€S’ Jamie Parker, Annalee Patipatanakoon and Roman Borys are The Gryphon Trio.K’X.FEDERALIST RALLY Bishop's University - Centennial Theatre Lennoxville, Que.Couiboy • Ulork Hiking • Casual Walkabouts SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 1996 at 2:00 p.m.492 CRAIG ST.EAST (Autoroute55, Richmond Exit) RICHMOND OUTLET HOURS Monday.Tuesday.Wednesday 9:30 a.in.to 6 p.m.Thursday, Friday 9:30 a.ill.to 9 p.nx-_ Saturday 9:30 a m.to 4 p.m.“Can federalists afford silence on Quebec separation and partition?” Guest speakers invited by the Special Committee for Canadian Unity Everyone is welcome The Record—TOWNSHIPS WEEK— April «9-26, 1996—3 TALK OF THE TOWNSHIPS I Street Light: Enthusiasm and electric energy Saturday, April 2 wine & cheese after THE GRYPHON TRIO piano, violin, cello THÉÂTRE ' .mm- l IT ’ ' Sam Lombardo, Jason Nutbrown, Brad Dickinson, Joey Lapointe and Steve Currie in Street Light.:PÉ* up are not one or two, but three productions from Montreal making up the spring schedule: Gilbert & Sullivan’s Yeomen of The Guard, mounted by the Montreal West Operatic Society, plays on Saturday, May 18, at 2 and 8 p.m.; the 65-year-old Fossils Club will stage Heaven Help Us the week after that; and Theatre Onze Heures Onze will present Signora Godzila by Eric Dufour on June 8 and 15.The theatre’s 10th anniversary will be celebrated with a gala on June 22 and a show that it yet to be revealed.The summer season begins June 26 with the comedy Scoops, by Dave Carley, about the shenanigans that take place around a small-town newspaper.Following that in short order are the mystery musical Gunmetal Blues and the English-language world premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard’s Desire.You may remember the Québécois playwright’s Heat Wave premiered in English at the theatre last year.The Piggery people have yet to come up with their summer season, although new artistic director Greg Tuck has promised a phone call the moment the board okays his lineup.We wait with baited breath.Thank You As news of the restructuring at the Record continues to make its way across the Townships, many readers of this section are now realizing the effect that eliminating the position of arts editor can have.Although my job is not in question, I may have very little chance to cover the arts in the future.I’ve received many calls of complaint about this change at our newspaper, and the support from across the Townships has been overwhelming.I cannot express just how much of a difference it has made to me.I am lucky to know that readers have appreciated what I’ve done at the Record for the past five years and I am delighted that so many of you would prefer I continue my work in the arts.Many of you believe that writing letters may reverse the decision not to keep a full-time arts journalist at the paper anymore, and perhaps it will.But I do not want to use this space as a platform for what I believe should be done at the Record.I simply wanted to express my sincerest appreciation for all the support.At the risk of sounding corny, you are what makes the Townships so special.U - - Quebec premiere of "In the Eagle's Eye” hN LNN ^ Andrew F.MacDonald, winner of a THEATRE 822-9692 Juno award in 1996.Theatre performed by high school students generally falls into two categories: Either it is played as a lark, providing more amusement for the cutups on stage than for the viewers, or, through works by the likes of Arthur Miller, Thornton Wilder and William Shakespeare, it teaches those treading the boards and in the audience about life, giving them valuable insights into the human condition.But what do you get when high school students who are still struggling to find their place in the sun nonetheless feel confident enough to pass on a life philosophy that is still being formulated in their own minds?Street Light, the latest production by the Christian musical theatre troupe Refuge, which played at Centennial Theatre in Lennoxville over the weekend.Part of the worldwide organization Youth For Christ, Refuge empowers its 60 young players to take control of their lives by placing their faith in a higher power.Street Light spreads the good word as it follows the stories of a group of teens who frequent a drop-in center in the heart of a big, bustling city.Issues such as peer pressure, sexuality and death are dealt with in this original comic drama written by Refuge founders Terry and Kerry Lapointe and the members of the group.Luke Aubé delivers a sensitive performance as Kyle, a boy trying to ward off pressures around him and be true to his beliefs as a Christian; Dana Gillam is equally effective as Christal, Kyle’s girlfriend who presses him to take their relationship to a sexual level.While the story of Kyle and Christal forms the main thread of the musical, it also features a number of amusing and dramatic sub-plots: Vivek Mehta as a big-city kid who pines for down-to-earth country comfort, Jason Davis as a prankster who doesn’t take anything seriously, and Sam Lombardo as a boy who is given little insights into life by the drop-in center’s director, played by Steve Currie.Refuge is a family affair and even many of the young actors’ parents get into the act by working in various capacities on the show, including set design and makeup.Most of the 10 songs featured in the show are performed by the entire cast backing up a soloist and believe it when I say some of these kids have big voices that produce surprising results.Little Chantal Paradis is a dynamo on “How You Do”, Julie Pinard provides “Street I .¥ a I « t .Art Bites By Sunil Mahtani Light” with its required exhu-berance, Lorena Hopkins delivers a tender rendition of the exquisite “Fishbowl” and Jay Davis and Joey Lapointe tickle as duelling rappers on “Tuti-Fruity”.Accomplished veterans of the troupe’s musicals such as Amy Stymiest (The Edge) share the stage with first-time performers like Paradis.This ‘anyone can fly’ approach means some players sing out of key at times and others weren’t always audible in the expansive Lennoxville theatre.But, as the play points out, it’s the attitude with which one does something that is most important, and rarely has there been more out-and-out enthusiasm and electric energy on stage as in Street Light.The youngsters were filled with a higher purpose that actually transcended the play itself.Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Terry and Kerry Lapointe is their ability to get youth of every calibre, be it shy and bespectacled to energetic extrovert, to stand up in front of hundreds of people and sing about their faith.These youths are on a mission and there is nothing more powerful than young people doing what they truly believe in.Street Light heads to Montreal this weekend for two performances: Billings High School in Chateauguay at 7:30 p.m.at April 19 and West View Bible Church in Pierrefonds at 8p.m.on April 20.Tickets will be available at the door.Next weekend, it takes the stage at the Richmond Regional High School at 7:30 p.m.on April 26.Tickets are available at the door and by calling (819) 848-2091 or 566-1532.he at re .Lac rome hopping Theatre Lac Brome is serving up its usual eclectic lineup this spring and summer.First sk .4—The Record—TOWNSHIPS WEEK— April 19-26, 1996 TALK OF THE TOWNSHIPS Kitty Wells: Dreams come true at Lennox ville bar Bar Wildwood owner Linda Sparkes made a lot of country music fans happy last Sunday as she presented Kitty Wells and the Tennessee Mountain Boys.The show got rave reviews from those who saw it, with many saying it was their dream come true.“I never thought I would live to be old enough to see Kitty Wells here in the townships,” said Mrs.Bisson, who was attending the concert with her son and daughter and some friends.“She’s always been my favorite singer and I can’t believe I saw her live and I even got her autograph.This is one of the best experiences in my life,” she added with a smile, showing off a pile of old Wells LPs she brought so the Queen of Country Music would sign them.Comments like this were frequent after both of Wells’ heart-warming sold-out concerts.“I grew up listening to Kitty Wells music and it brings back a lot of memories,” said another gentleman attending the concert.“That’s what I like about country music, it’s so easy to relate to the stories in Country Connection By Jessie Aulis the songs.This is all about love and life and Kitty Wells sings as good as she ever did.Wells’ road show is called The Kitty Wells Family Show since her husband Johnny Wright and her son Bobby Wright both join her onstage while her grandson is part of the Tennessee Mountain Boys as the drummer.Wells and Wright, who are celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary this year, have been working together for a long time and the happiness is Johnny Wright, Kitty Wells meet a happy fan.still clearly there.“You need a good sense of humor and respect for one another, then it’s easy to be married and work with your husband,” said Wells.“Everyone has a job to do and I know Kitty’s the draw, so we all do our part to help her out and make things easier for her,” added her hubby with much love in his eyes.People will remember that Johnny Wright is an excellent musician and a songwriter.Many years ago, he wrote “Ashes of Love”, a song which became a country classic and one that many artists still perform on stage.Wright loves to share his memories with people — and he has quite a few.Comfortably installed in their tour bus parked in front of Bar Wildwood, they told me about working at The Grand Ole Opry, being on the road with Hank Williams when he was still alive, raising their family, and their everyday life in Nashville.A couple of years ago, Wells recorded with Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn when they invited her to sing on the remake of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” for the album Honky Tonk Angels.This is, of course, Wells’ signature song and she said she loved the experience.“It was nice of them to ask me, it meant the world to me and I would do it again,” said Wells.Wright, who will turn 82 on May 13, will celebrate his birthday on the road since the show will be performing a few venues at different State Fairs.“It doesn’t matter, Kitty will take care of it and have a cake made for me,” he said jokingly.He is very active and tells me that one of his passions is mechanics and that he still does some repairs on their tour bus.“I love doing things with my hands, I love to do repairs and build things,” he said.What keeps them on the road after all these years when they could stay at the home?They both agree that a love of travelling and meeting fans is what keeps them going.“We’ve always loved to go back where we’ve been and it seems that people are always happy to see us again,” said Wells.“That’s for sure,” added Wright.“Loving people are a great part of a career like the one we have.” Since what goes around comes around, their fans were very generous with their applause and standing ovations at both shows.After both shows, Wells and Wright signed autographs, posed for pictures or simply chatted with their fans until everyone had their fill.Country fans will be reminiscing long after the country legend is back in her Nashville residence.Album review: Rhonda Vincent: Trouble Free (Giant/Warner) Rhonda Vincent’s second album for Giant is joyful and surely too good not to talk about it.This pure-voiced Iowa native comes from one of the most well-known families performing bluegrass in Missouri.Alison Krauss used to tour with Vincent’s family when she was barely 12, and since Vincent also played fiddle at the time, the two girls used to engage in duels that would make the crowd scream.Years have gone by and now Vincent is ready for a leading role on the country music scene, and this new album showcases the sweet soprano well.Wells and Wright inside their tour bus.Mixing bluegrass, mountain and country, Vincent offers a rather traditional collection done with a contemporary, modern feel.You’ll be surprised to discover that on Trouble Free, some pretty big names lend a hand: Randy Travis, Dolly Parton and, of course, Alison Krauss.Travis also makes his first-ever guest appearance as a duet partner on “It Ain’t Nothin’ New” recalling the magic created on a ballad by George Jones and Tammy Wynette.Parton brings her talent as Rhonda’s silhouette on “The Blues Ain’t Workin’ On Me” while the title track is a fiery bluegrass two-stepper.“What More Do You Want From Me” and “Someday” are two up-beat numbers already familiar to country fans due to strong radio play.There’s also the sentimental tear-jerker “An Old Memory