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Craze has faded but In today‘s infernal rat race, sometimes people just want to go out and escape, find a place that can sell them instant happiness, a place where they don‘t have to feel alone. Coral Andrews Chronicle Special Gilley‘s thriving in Pasadena, Texas since 1970,. is the essence of this formula. Countryâ€" superstar â€" turned â€" millionaire/tycoon Mickey Gilley has made a fortune with his miniature Western empire consisting of mechanical bulls, his own syndicated radio show, Western wear and even his own brand of beer. The Texas honkyâ€"tonk cult hero is bringing his own branding iron of music,. when he plays Friday at Centre in the Square,. with special guest Charly McClain. : Gilley and his wild west metropolis were immortalized in Urban: Cowboy with John Travolta, and in Esquire Magazine with Aaron Latham‘s "Ballad of the Urban Cowboy." The ‘Texas Chic craze has since faded but Gilley‘s vast music following doubles each year. with his hits as popular as ever. His latest single You‘ve Really Gotta Hold On Me. is grabbing the general public by storm. He‘s had a crossover with the song being played on both country and rock stations. which is fine by Gilley who preters to think of himself as a contemporary artist rather than strict country "Kenny Rogers gets his stuff played on both rock and country stations because he used to be a rock artist But the new adunit contemporary market has given country music a chance to progress â€" tremendousiy â€" from the. Hank Wi) liams/Merle Haggard hillbilly type." comment ed Gilley in a recent interview from Pasadena ‘"Musicians areâ€" playingmore than three chords, and its good driving music with a message. That‘s the thing good lyrics. good bealt and an arrangement that works. You simply have to have this combination, to get anywhere in the business. A song that doesn‘t say anything, with words that ramble, sounds like a piece of junk . The public first believed Gilley lived on the wildcat fringes of legendary cousin Jerry Lee Lewis, and it‘s true Gilley‘s path did change when he realized the kind of money he could make in the singing profession. Until that point Gilley was working like a dog in construction and mechanics. The two have played several dates together, but Gilley claims that he and Jerry are ‘incompatible‘ and both live on opposite sides of the music coin. Gilley would like to keep it that way, and there was a certain consternation in his voice when he mentioned this tender topic. ‘"Had I known 15 to 16 years ago. what this life was going to be like, I might have given up. But I wasn‘t able to look in the erystal ball and I struggled something fierce for everything lever got," he said firmly. "I‘ve put every ounce of talent into this business, and it‘s worth every minute of it. I go where 1 wanta go and I do what 1 wanta do." Mickey Gilley doesn‘t seem incapable of anything, and it‘s largely due to his outlook on life. "If you see something, go after it. and don‘t ever stop. Hell, why should 1 stop at a loaf of bread when I can have the whole damn grocery store." Gilley lives on Mickey Gilley Rick Campbeli Chronicle Staft Goodness. The props from their major production of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe had barely been struck a final time when a group of Bluevale collegiate drama students picked up on the oneâ€"act play First Ladies First last month. _ in ';étrospect. it appears the title of the 45â€"minute gem, written six years ago by BCI drama teacher Mr. Peter Mansell, was as much a prophecy as a description of the play. Because "first"‘ is exactly where the play finished 10 days ag;‘;â€"lmgs“‘ ide ?(‘}uéipilâ€"‘â€"ci)ii;efiiié‘s LGod in â€"the outstanding production category of the 17th annual Waterlooâ€"Wellington drama festival. e S s The {estival is the district level of the prestigious Sears Drama Festival and because of their commendation both First Ladies First and God will attend the Western Ontario Regional Festival March 22â€"24 at Hamilton‘s Sir Allan MacNab secondary school. The allâ€"Ontario showcase is in early May. . in addition to being named coâ€"winner of top production, BCI also had three actresses singled out for outstanding efforts. Multiâ€"talented Jennifer Cornish, who is making a name for herself in significant roles locally, won one of two outstanding {emale performer awards for her portrayal of Sian Whitney . Supporting actresses Beata Pillach and Lydia Krysciak were given awards of merit by adjudicator John Ra';my a drama teacher at Welland‘s Niagara Callege, for their efforts as Joanne Fisher and Cathy Eby respectively. Briefly, First Lagies First is the story of a high school drama group, mostly girls, left by the drama teacher to conduct auditions for the school play.â€"Of:course the â€"szseniors are in charge, and one ofthem, Sian Whitrey (Cornish) makes it obvious she is unwilling to step aside and let the younger talents take the lead roles. Insteat, she manipulates io. mt taioie se reuaived har temomines from mm y unfolds, ves ‘her comeâ€"uppance not only the other cast members, but technical.crews as well. "Some parts of the character were so much likeâ€"me it was actually seary, but then other parts.â€"don‘t come.close at all," said Cornish. "It would chave ‘been easy :to ‘turn into a oneâ€"dimensional bitch, but with this character, you have to go beneath that to find something to base the hurt and bitchiness on." Mansell, who huglfin&z describes himself as a "rookie‘" in he Sears.competition: despite his overâ€"all wealth of theatre knowledge, wrote the play six Wl«- the Canadian Oneâ€"Act Play festival at Gait colleginte. It‘s been sitting on the self since:then. + "I just looked around and realized L had all:these talents on BCI performers come through in oneâ€"act play As themselves "I just looked around and realized L had.all:these talentsâ€" on the scene Cat .BC1)..A:just Wt it. would be the perfect:time to bring out the. play,‘‘ he k f ; In order: to prep are for First Lmdies First, the BCI â€"maior T T TT TTT T T ILTILIILITLITLTLITIT BCI performers (iâ€"r) Allison Gertridge; Beata Pillach, Lydia Krysciak, Bonnie Golbeck and Jennifer Cornish discuss the reviews of First Ladies First in their drama room with teacher Mr. Peter Mansell. Rick Campbell photo winter production of Lion, Witch etc. had to be moved ahead two weeks. The Wâ€"W fest featured nine schools spread over three nights. Saturday was workshop day followed by the awards banquet later that night. Needliess to say, the buildâ€"up and sardineâ€"can schedule made the final result all that much more appreciated for the BCI garig. _ _ ""And we‘ve all had a nervous breakdown because of it," said Borinie Golbeck with a laugh. Golbeck is cast in the role of Cornish‘s ally Chery] Foster. _ _ _ __ o Though the thought of playing high school roles may to some seem easy enough for high school actresses, actually the opposite was the case, according to Masisell. "It‘s not that easy playing yourself, espectally for someone like Jennifer who has to hurl outright insglts at Allison Gertridgem and Bonnie Golbeck, who in real life are close Gertridge, in the role of talented upâ€"andâ€"coming Lori Windom, concurred. "I found that my role was easier than when I played Susan tin the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe), but 1 still found it hard actually getting angry at Jen {Cornish)." “Yeh,," said Cornish. "She‘d call me a bitch and we‘d both Plays in the competition.â€"were restricted to 50 minutes, with 10â€"minute setâ€"up and 10â€"minute strike allowed. "‘That was no problem for us," said Manseli, explaining that the BCI set was extremely simple, consisting mainly of desks andâ€" chairs. "All our m were devoted io the acting ... we were working in , with natural lighting, regular clothes, after all, our actors were playing high school stwems‘Ot Adjudicator Rapsey praised the Biuevale effort, describing it as ‘‘extremely interesting ... stunning expose of the participants in a drama festival." : Manseli, while lauding the efforts of all his cham had extra bouquets for the performance by Cornish, who last year attended The Toronto Sthool of Performing Arts on a scholarship. She recently played the third daughter in the Kâ€"W Masical Production .of Fiddler on the Roof. ‘"Oh, she‘s an awesome acting talent, she‘s certainly on her S CunIERCE CR TIBIL, AXVLIDONN NPCR DR OOR PR MEREAAT TE OM e t lach, Lydia Krystiak, Mandy ingall, Debbie Ponzo, ?:tm‘ j , «Beatsy W m Shortreed, Dave Hudgins, Pat Tighe and Darren East as the boyfriend. Stage W 3t. Man s\“w M‘“‘Wm mfihfi m mm ’ ?.li ;m which Tinned â€" BCT adopis singe hatees And sthool jackets from way." said Mansell. "I try to toss her way every role 1 Notes: First Ladies Kirst was directed by Peter Mansell, with assistant director Teddi Peddle. Cast members were with assistant â€"director Teddi Peddie. Cast members were CImexCRERCL Y VERVCEARTOVCREy 116 DDRMERCWUENEE ECCC PC EC . arrogance and backbiting which goes on ‘among