‘Contributed by, -__
Terrace Little Theatre
Anna Strangway sits comfortably

in her office. She is a social work- :

‘er at Mills Memorial Hospital —
and now, an actor with the Terrace
Little Theatre. The play is Hoot-
ers, directed by Gordon Oates.
Anna plays Cheryl, described in
the play as a perfect “10”.

Anna herself is not exactly a “10”
— she looks much too intelligent
and friendly, No, definitely not a
dumb blonde or a brainless beauty.
But she does radiate charm, poise

and warmth and yes, she is very

good looking.

When asked about her back-
ground and interest in theatre, it is
a delight to discover that she is a
‘graduate’ of the highly respected
Theatre Arts course at Skeena
Junior Secondary Schoo! (this year
available only to Grade 9 and 10
students). She also turns out to be
a former instructor for the Terrace
Little Theatre Summer Drama
School. So this is not a newcomer
at all! Young Anna (nee: Schoeps)
is back, all grown up and ready for
the Terrace stage again.

“T remember one line from one of
Mr. Koven’s plays,” she laughs,
“Pl never forget it: ‘Lance, mah

heart is thumpin’ louder than a.
washin’ machine full o”-bowlin’
balls!” That. was me playing Lulu
in The Perils of Lulu!” She speaks
enthusiastically of how Brian
Koven’s program helped her over-
come her shyness and build her
confidence in Grade 8. She says
the change from music to theatre
was a really smart move for her. .
In Grade 10, she directed a talent
show. Her younger sister Charlotte
was in it, (Charlotte went on to
become Miss Terrace 1988 and to
star in TLT’s award-winning The
Creation and Fall of Lucifer). “We
won first prize in that talent
show!” After high school, Anna
took first year acting at Malaspina

‘College with Tony Bancroft. One

of the highlights was a farcical
spoof on old westerns. But after
that, drama took a back seat while

Anna worked to put herself
through college.

This year she and her husband
returned to live in Terrace and
Anna decided to audition for the
Terrace Little Theatre. “I really
missed acting. It’s an expression
of yourself. And a great way to
meet some neat people. So I
screwed up my courage and audi-
tioned for Gordon.” While well

over half a dozen women tried out
for Hooters, there was no contest
once Anna walked onto the stage.
She was Cheryl! :

So who is Cheryl? Anna hesi-
tates. “I like her, I enjoy her sense
of fun. But I feel for her, too, She
is not able to boost her own ego.
She always needs someone else to
validate that she is okay, that she

is special, beautiful, She gets

hooked into being what people
want her to be. She has no goals of
her own. She’s quite lost, really.
Ooops; that’s the social worker in
me talking,” Anna grins. “Ulti-
mately, Cheryl loses the power to
make choices because of the way
she is.”

About the play itself Anna has
equally strong feelings. “It’s very
funny! Some of the conversations
are just hilarious. But it’s a man’s
play, very definitely. It’s written
from the perspective of two 19-
year-old boys and how they deal
with their pursuit of women.”
When the subject of the coarse
language in one of the scenes in
the play comes up, she winces,
“I’m petting used to it. My hus-
band assures me this is the way
young men talk.”

Hooters also stars three other

Children’s Book Week
brings author to town

Rachna Gilmore: Reading Monday in Terrace.

Canadian author Rachna
Gilmore, who has published four
successful children’s books in the
-past three years, will read from her
works Monday night at the Ter-
race Public Library as part of Chil-
dren’s Book Week, Nov. 2-9.
-Gilmore, born in India and a resi-
dent of Canada since 1976, wrote
Aunt Fred is a Witch, Jane’s Loud
Mouth, Wheniwasalittlegirl, and
My Mother Is Weird. She has also
received prizes for her works of
adult fiction.

Gilmore’s reading begins at 1:30
p.m. in the basement meeting
room of the library. Because the
library is not open Mondays, peo-
ple attending the reading are
advised to use the back entrance of
the building. Organizers say the
reading is suitable for school age
children but adults are also
encouraged to come.

Gilmore’s tour is sponsored by
the Canada Council.

Terrace Review —— Wednesday, October 30, 199] 19

Terrace Little Theatre finds the Perfect ‘10’

TLT actors, who interestingly
enough all worked together in Ken
Morton’s successful production of
Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Jane Sparkes plays Cheryl's
friend Rhonda. Jane notes that
while Rhonda is not written to be

a “10” in the script, “she is not bad —

looking”. Jane's background is in
dance and Brighton Beach Mem-
oirs was her first non-musical role.
“Rhonda is insecure about her
looks and feels overshadowed by
Cheryl. She’s a lot like me, actual-
ly, some would call her a bit
bitchy. But she is more mature
than Cheryl, intelligent. She views
the two guys as a couple of kids
and she is mot interested in them.”

Kevin Oates plays Clint, who
eventually gets his romantic expe-
rience in the play. “T like the funny
lines and it’s great working with
the girls and John.” Kevin has a
long history of TLT involvement

Leave your card. with 5

— as an actor, a Summer Drama

School instructor and’ a lighting
technician,

John McGowan will be remem-
bered for his powerful portrayal of
Stanley in Brighton Beach Mem-
girs and now lends his talents to
the part of Ricky. John says that
Ricky is quite jealous of Clint’s
background and education. “He is
very good at lying about himself.
Not to speak of the fact that any
girl who is half-decent is a 10 to
him.” John also has experience in
musical theatre, notably Anne of
Green Gables in London, Ont.
Hooters opens Nov. 14 at the
McColl Playhouse on Kalum
Street. Come see this upbeat sit-
com about young men pursuing
the perfect girl. It’s different and it
will strike a chord with every
young person who has been — or
is — interested in the opposite

600 readers:

Four Past Midnight by Stephen King
Adult fiction published by Signet

You awaken with a jolt. You're lying on your back, muscles rigid
with a sudden primordial fear. A furtive glance shows that the |
clock has struck midnight, the most shivery time of the night.

You lie still a moment longer, your ears straining for the slightest
sound. Then, relieved and laughing a little at your own foolish-
ness, you roll over onto your side. Only then do you notice the
dark shape gathered at the side of the bed. Adrenalin pouring into
your system, you sit bolt upright, a scream ripping up from your
belly as you make a panicky stab for the light switch.

But it’s only Mr, King, come to read you another bedtime story.

Here we have four tales of pure terror, and just in time for All
Hallows Eve! Climb aboard American Pride’s Flight 29 bound for
Boston, with a short layover somewhere beyond the backside of
hell. From there you'll slither down inside a writer's absolutely
worst nightmare. Your next stop is a ghostly library where you'll
meet the nice demonic Library Policeman, Your final destination
will put you behind the lens of a very special camera specifically
designed to shred your sanity... among other things. Have a happy

Hallowe’en!
If you dare...

Dancers

8 p.m.

Adults - $15

In Skeena Mall

Judith Marcuse

Saturday, Nov.2

R.E.M. Lee Theatre

Seniors & students — $10 |

Tickets available at Erwin Jewellers