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Terrace Review — Wednesday, March 13,1991 B13

New on stage this weekend.........

“Brighton Beach
_MemoitsS

learned to really like this part. It’s
a challenge." .
Campanelli relates his charactet’s
personality to that of his own
father, "a very experienced man, a
very wise man, who takes time to

Authentic |
period hal

La Eeand | Bae i ee ae em a

REAR aN

Brighton Beach Memoirs -

the McColl Playhouse.

a challenge for some,

a feeling of family for al. Here,
Kevin Oates ham it up in a rehearsal for tomorrow evening's debut of Brighton Beach Memoirs at

Jane Sparkes and

by Stephanie Wiebe

——— SS
‘The Terrace Little Theatre's
latest production brings some
interesting new faces to local audi-

ences, Brighton Beach Memoirs

centres around a 15 year-old boy,
Eugene Jerome (played by Kevin
Oates), and his colourful family.
This comedy-drama, which opens
tomorrow evening, introduces
Lillian de Balinhard, Lorenzo
Campanelli and John McGowan
into the pool of local talent.

"I still can’t believe I’m doing
this,” says Lillian de Balinhard.
Her theatrical debut occurred
"about 150 years ago” when she

‘played the magic mirror in her

Grade 2 presentation of Snow
White. A reluctant actress, she
says, "I have no background, and I
never had any interest. I didn’t
expect to get involved as deeply as
I did."

De Balinhard has some difficulty
relating to her role as the "off the
wall" mother of the main charac-
ter. "Trying to play the part of
Kate, and the way she talks -- she
asks questious and answers them
herself. She never listens to any-

body, and nobody ever listens to

her -- maybe this is my life," she
laughs.

Through the long rehearsals, the
Brighton Beach cast has grown
close. "This play is very emotional.
You bond with these people. I
have a lot of respect and fondness
for both Lorenzo and John. And
I'd like to adopt Kevin.” de Balin-
hard is particularly close to’ the
prop girl —— her eleven year-old
daughter, Tracy.

Originally from Vancouver, de
Balinhard came to Terrace about
10 years ago, and has never looked

back. "It’s a beautiful community.
Terrace has got a lovely cross-
section of people. I've never seen
people like this anywhere. This is
my home." After a hectic five-year
stint as a working single mother,
de Balinhard is enjoying a slower
pace while taking university cor-
respondence courses.

OF her current TLT experience,
de Balinhard says, "You cannot
have any negative thoughis about
yourself -- you can’t afford a

negative thought. I think it’s better
than any therapy... everybody
should try this."

When John McGowan first read

through the Brighton Beach script,

one scene in particular caught his
attention: two brothers are discus-
sing the facts of life. "It’s a funny
scene. That’s what got me in-
terested in the play, that scene."

McGowan is enjoying his role as
Stanley, Eugene’s older brother.
Other cast members were amazed
at how quickly he learned his
lines. "John knew his lines right
away," said one cast member, “and
everyone else’s, too." McGowan
modestly replies that his role is not
difficult. "I think he’s one of the
easiest characters. He’s sort of a
joker."

McGowan, a physical education
teacher who migrated to Terrace
from Montreal last year, is expand-

ing his interest in theatre. His

previous theatrical experietice
concentrated on musical produc-
tions, including a children’s opera,
but McGowan says, "I like this for
a change. Besides,” he laughs, "my

voice has changed since then." The
wide variety of "roles" behind-the-
scenes have also caught Mc-
Gowan’s eye, including set design,
props and lighting. "They have
forty-seven lighting changes in just
the first scene. I’d like to learn
some other things.”

Involved in numerous local
sports activities, McGowan finds
rehearsal time tightens his already
busy schedule. "Oh, I like it, I
enjoy it, but it does wear you
down." OF his castmates, he says,
"We've spent a ton of time
together. Lorenzo, he’ll say some-
thing like, 'This is a nice little
family...” "

McGowan plans to stay involved
with Terrace Little Theatre in the
future. As for Brighton Beach,
"Hopefully, the people will like it.
It’s a pretty funny play."

"When I ended up getting the
part of Jack, I wanted to quit, but
John talked me into sticking with
it." Lorenzo Campanelli was not
aiming for the part of Jack,
Eugene’s father, during auditions
for the latest production. “I've

Pool

_. Thornhill
Neighbourhood Pub

Thornhill Neighbourhood Pub
9387 Thornhill St., Terrace

phone 638

-8404

-fashions~
created and .
styled by —

think about things and put things
into perspective —— 4 hard-work-
ing man who really loves his
family." The challenge for Cam-
panelli is understandably difficult
__— he’s a healthy 26-year-old

playing a sickly middle-aged man.
"It’s certainly a true test for an
actor, to be someone you're not.
I’m learning @ new skill.”

A Grade 7 teacher, Campanelli
came to Terrace from Hamilton,
Ontario, where his theatre experi-
ence began in grade school. "No
formal theatre training.” While at
university, he participated in the
dramatization of a Biblical event,
the sacrifice of Isaac. Campanelli
credits his latest acting stint to his
roommate, John McGowan. "He’s
like a brother. I feel very comfor-
table working with him. Without
John, I wouldn’t be in [Brighton
Beach Memoirs|."

Relishing the "new experience
aspect of it", Campanelli is eagerly
looking forward to tomorrow’s
opening night.

Brighton Beach Memoirs begins —
a six-night run tomorrow evening
in the McColl Playhouse. . Sub-
sequent stagings are March 15, 16,
21, 22 and 23. Curtain time is 8

Salons Barber
Esthetics
4646 LAKELSE
635-5727
635-4555

p.m. for all nights. Tickets are
available at Erwin Jewellers in the
Skeena Mall and the Bank of
Montreal.

Terrace Little Theatre
presents

Neil Simon’s

AEN .
— BRIGHTON
jet

. alove letter to the past
- KENMORTON
DAVE BATT ISON
GORDON OATES

MARCH 14,15,16 & 21,22,23

8:00 p.m.
McColl Playhouse, 3625 Kalum Street

Tickets at Erwin Jewellers (Skeena Mall)
_ & Bank of Montreal
$8 Thursdays, $10 Fridays/ Saturdays

starring
Jane Sparkes Lillian de Balinhard
Sarah Brorup-Weston *Linda Zwaga
John McGowan *Lorenzo Campanelli and

Kevin Oates as ‘Eugene’

fo” aigigiane mature BOETIES-

: ol poster design M.B.Weston