Terrace Little. /Neatre | renames buildi ng for — dramatic local family contributed by Jo Falconer A Terrace family will be honored by the unanimous. deci- sion of the Terrace Little Theatre Association to rename its building on Kalum St. as the McColl Playhouse. ; The McColl family’s involve- ment with the Terrace Little Theatre dates from 1952 when a small group of dedicated theater buffs formed the Terrace Little Theatre Association. One of the founding members was. Loreen McColl. Thirty-six years later the family is still represented by - Merry Hallsor, Loreen’s young- est daughter. Loreen, her husband Bud, and their six children were total- ly committed to working for the Little Theatre. Loreen acted and directed; Bud, their sons Robin and Bruce, and daughters, Sheila (Bull) and Bonnie (Shaw) acted; Gail (Toop) painted sets. The children grew up working backstage and performing the myriad. tasks necessary in mounting any theatrical venture. Even their home was pressed in- to service. Merry recalls the first production in 1953, ‘‘Our home was bare,’’ she says, ‘‘all the furniture was the stage-set for . ‘Father of the Bride’.’’ From 1952 until the early °70’s Loreen devoted much of her time and considerable energy towards building up and pro- moting the Terrace Little Theatre as a vital part of the community. Many of the plays she directed (including one she wrote in collaboration with Mary Juby) were given critical acclaim at the Provincial Drama Festivals, When she resigned, she was given a lifetime member- ship to the Little Theatre. After her death in 1984, the building on Kalum St. was dedicated to her memory. Bud, who had played lead roles in many pro- ductions, predeceased her in 1981. Robin McColl, the eldest son, continued the family tradition of involvement in the theater for- many years. From the late 60's to the early 80’s he contributed his talents as make-up man, ac- ter and director. His last pro- duction was ‘The Doll’s House’ by Ibsen in which he directed his sister, Merry, in the lead role. Robin died in 1986. A. second generation of Mc- Colls participated in Little ‘Theatre activities in the late 70’s and early 80’s. As students, the grandchildren, Pam Shaw, Jane Bull and Bruce Hallsor were in- structors at the annual Little Theatre Summer School for children. Bruce acted in a number of plays as a child. Jane has gone on to work in profes- sional theater in Toronto. On her return to Terrace in 1974, Merry Hallsor rejoined the Terrace Little Theatre. She has since taken on many roles, not only as an actress and director of theatrical productions but also as a member of the executive committee. As president in 1980, she headed the “fund-raising ‘drive to save the Kalum St. building which the Association’ was then in danger of losing, As an executive member of Theatre B.C., she keeps in touch with — theatrical news, ideas and hap- penings throughout the prov- ince. As a director she has been responsible most recently for the successful performances of _*¥oung Dracula’, 1986, and. ‘Heavens to Betsy’, 1987. Merry looks back with pride, not’ only at her: family’s con- tribution to the Terrace Little ‘Theatre but also at the tremen- dous achievements of the Asso- - ciation over the years. As the se- cond oldest community theatre § in the province, it has survived ‘many vicissitudes: through the dedication and enthusiasm of its ‘members. Books for Young Readers New offerings in | q science and magic by Andrea Deakin ¢ Diana Wynne Jones returns to Chrestomanci, the enchanter, in her latest book, ‘‘The Lives of Christopher Chant’’, published by Macmillan at $18.50. Chrestomanci is the hero of “Charmed Life”, ‘Witch Week”’ and ‘The Magicians of Caprona’”’. Now we meet him as a child, a lonely child, who takes solace in the strange dreams that take him through a desert ‘Place Between’ to many strange and = * wonderful lands, lands that he calls the Almost Anywheres, From these lands he brings back real solid objects as souvenirs. Detached from his formal, often-absent father, he is drawn to the vague figure of his mother and a procession of governesses — some good, some bad — who care for him. The only figure that appears to offer him affection is his Uncle Ralph, a lively and powerful figure who appears delighted by Christopher's travels, and, above all, by his ability to bring back objects from his dreams. Uncle Ralph suggests that the lonely boy do some ex- periments for him. In the course of the experiments he meets Tacroy, a servant of his uncle’s, and the Goddess, a girl of his own age. The experiments lead to a contest for power in which Christopher is a key player, and in which his plans, and the plans = | of others, go hectically awry, and he no longer knows who is friend and who is enemy, One thing is certain: the boy whose dream it is to play cricket for Surrey finds himself the most powerful enchanter of all, the next Chrestomanci. | Diana Wynne Jones’ gift for believable fantasy, strong characterisation, subtle perception of human nature and wildly effective humor are all seen here at their very best. , Bob Macdonald, the host of the CBC science programme for children, ‘“Wonderstruck’’, and Toronto writer and editor Eric Grace have collaborated to produce a book based on the ques- tions ‘submitted by young viewers of the series. As Bob Mac- donald points out, ‘‘the most challenging questions are the simple ones.”’ The answers to each question are accompanied by Kitchen Demos — experiments which can be carried out with the simplest of apparatus to back up the information already given. The authors have chosen effectively. It is interesting to know that a simple effect like the shower curtain bending in when you the air. Indeed there are a great about which have intriguing reas turn on the shower, is the same effect that keeps a jumbo jet in many things we never think ons for being! Why don’t hens break their eggs when they sit on them? Why is it that when in- sects walk across the surface of water their feet don’t get wet? Did you know that the Eiffel Tower weighs less than'a column of air the same size, or that it is possible to have a white rainbow? The book is written in a lucid, interesting way and the illustra- tions are clear and helpful, but otherwise they are the weak spot in the book. They lack sophistication, they are reminiscent of the cartoon-type information books of the 40’s and 50’s. Children are far more sophisticated today in their appreciation of visual presentation. This is a pity in a book that I can otherwise recom- mend for its practical, interesting and attractive approach. “Wonderstruck” is published by CBC Enterprises at $9.95. “The Snail’s Spell’ by Joanne Ryder is an outstanding book for young children. A small child lies in a vigorously growing garden. He imagines himself shrinking and shrinking until he is the size of a snail and pictures how the snail finds his way along the ground and how the world looks from that view. The “beautifully detailed, meticulously drawn and softly colored il- Justrations by Lynne Cherry are full of experiences to share and explore, This is a little book not to be missed. “The Snail’s | Spell” is. published in paperback by Puffin Books at $4.95. | 4830 Straume Avenue’ _ “Ihave called thee by thy ‘name thou art mine." . ofsatah 432th . Sacred Heart Catholic Church = Mass Times: Pastor: me Saturday: 7:30 p.m. Fr. Allan F, Noonan’ Sundays: 9:00 a.m. O.M.I. Lo _ W:00am. 5 635-2313 fm re] ‘St. Matthew’s Anglican Episcopal Church @ Sunday Services; Rector Rev: = 9 a.m, & 11 a.m. -. Hermann Dittrich . - Sunday School asses ore held during the ¥ o.m, service. Child care le ‘ avaltoble during the ? a.m. wervice. - et | 4506 Lakelse Avenue ; 635-9019 & Christ Lutheran Church -_ : First Sunday of every month, 9:00 a.m. with Holy Communion . All other Sundays, 11:00 a.m. _ Sunday School discontinued for the summer - resumes ° Sunday, September 11, 1983 3229 Sparks Street 635-5526 @ f Terrace Seventh-Day Adventist Church Sabbath Schoo!: Pastor: so Saturday 9:30 a.m. Ole Unruh — 635-7313 Divine Service: Prayer, Meeting: Saturday 11:00 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Bi 5906 Griffiths 635-3232 } Evangelical Free Church im Sunday School: Pastors: m (for all ages) Jim Westman | 9:45 a.m. Gordon Froese ~ Sunday Services: _ Prayer Meeting: S 9:20 a.m. / 11:00 a.m, 6:30 p.m. Wed. 7:00 p.m. | my 3302 Sparks Street. . 635-5115 Knox United Church S Sunday Worship: Minister: 10:30 a.m. Stan Bailey me Sunday School: Youth Group: 10:30 a.m. 6:30 p.m. | 4907 Lazelle Ave. 635-6014 Terrace Pentecostal Assembly ~ Early Service: Pastor: i 8:30 a.m. John Caplin f Sunday $choo!: Prayer Time: 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m, a . ME Morning Service: 11:15 a.m. _ Evening Service: -6:30 p.m. BS5i1 Eby Street 635-2434 § The Alliance Church Pastor: Rick Wiebe Ass’ Pastor:Douglas Ginn Fellowship Service 3:30 p.m. — a Family Bible School: me «69:45.a.m., Divine Worship: 11:00 a.m. All are cordially Invited oo Youth Ministries x Home Biblo Studies x Visitation 4923 Agar Avenue 635-7727 : .. The Salvation Army a Sunday Services: a , 9:39 a.m. Christian Education (all ages) . 11:00 a.m. Holiness Meeting —« 7:00 p.m. Salvation Meeting For Further Information call . : 4643 Walsh Avenue 635-6480 & ‘Christian Reformed Church Sunday Services: . Paster: oo 11 om. & 5 pom. Peter Sluys — 635-2621 Coffee Break, Ladies’ Bible Study Wednesdays 9:45 a.m. & 7:45 p.m. | 7 Back-to-God hour Sundays 9:30 p.m. on CJFW-FM radio. @ 3602 Sparks 635-6173 dee pee vt ae a nap Sem IN tT SO A