PAGE U, WHJTY FME PRES, WDNESAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990 Shoestring Plerformierspresent play by Quebec playwright By Trudie Zavadovica The Durham Shoestring Per- formera are well into rehearsais for their production of 'Albertine ini five times' and Anne Walker, who plays Albertine at age 30, is weii mnto knowing and deveioping her character. «I knew nothing about the play when I trled out for. it," says Walker. "I waa very impressed with the Company and have enjoyed working with thein before.» «I play the youngest Albertine. The most niave of ail of them.» The Play, written by Quebec platywrîght ; Michel 'Iremb1ay, takes th'e audience through five stages of Albertine's life, but not chronologiceilIy, as the five Alber- tines interact . «Al of thérm are under a lot of pressure,» says Walker. «She's not dealing with it well.» .Walkee says that Albertine is ini many ways very traditional but without a lot of support, and is often her own worst'critie. uShe's a;nbitious yet frustra- ted. She. sets hif ideals and lives up tô none of them.» Walker says the process' of having fivie actors play the same person at different stages has been both challenging and inter- eshen we began we were not at ail alike. The more we are rehearsing, it seems we are play- ing the saie person.» Another challenge for Walker is the seriousness of the charac- ter. «It's a more serious sort of role with more depth than ]P used to, which, has made it interest- keepng with the philosophy of the theatre group, the play also provides challenge for the audience. «It will be a challenge for the audience to put the story together. It fits tôgether like a puzzle. It is' also emnotionally challenging.» Albertine ini Fi-ie TImes will be e resented on Feb. 23 and 24, arch 2 and 3 at the arts resource centre, behind Oshawa' city hall. Curtain time is 8 p.m. ickets are on sale at Informa- tion Oshawa, Oshawa city hall complex, and Merle Norman Cos- metics ini the Oshawa Centre. Advance tickets are $4, at the door $5. AN EXHIBITION of hand-painted silver prints by award-winning photographer Mary Elen McQuay of Whitby is at The Station Gallery until Feb. 25. Chri. Bovie photo Warrener exhibi*t An exhibition of 62 works of art by Canadian artiat Lowrie L. Warrener wîIll pe at the Robert McLaugh]in alery on Feb. 22 and continue until March 11. Thirty-six of the works are oils and the remaining are linoblock prints. Lowrie Warrener, born in Sarnia, is a relatively unknown artiat today, but in the mid 1920s he was highly regarded in Toronto art circles as a progessive talent.' The 1920s were a time of great enthusiasm among urtists who believed 'that the true expression of Canadian art could ho realized through the exploration and interpretation of the Canadian landacape. Warrner was part of a generation of artists whose esthetic interesta and attitudes were closely a]igned with those of the Group of Seven. Me was conaidered by Lawren Harris te be the first abstract artiat in Canada. Warrener began bis formai training at the Ontario Collage of Art studying with Emanuel Hahn. Armned with a letter of introduction from Arthur ià smîer. Me went te, Antwerp te, study at the Acadeinie Royale des Beaux Arts. Not impressed with the Academie and turning down the offer of a teaching job he left for Paris te draw and paint without formai instruction. Ini Aprl of 1925 Warrener returned te Sarnia and began te work on lake boats in order te make money te. paint. -Although ha sold a nuniber of Paintings, not everyone appreciated bis work. Me showed his ability in designing sets for Toronto theatre productions. A retrospective look at Lowrie Warrener's work provides insight inte t.he activities and talents of artisa working in the periphery of the Group of Seven. Get "hitched" tonight at OC The Oshawa Centre ha" extended an invitation te the general public to, get married, remarried or divorced at the Centre on Valentine's Night - Feb. 14 from 7-9 p.m. The event is planned te, raise finds for the Meart and Stroke Foundation. Any oereznony at the "chapel" in Centre Court costs $1 with ail roceeda te ho given te the foundation. Couples will ha hitched or urîhitched (dependent upon personal 'preference> by none other than "MarryingSain witnessed. by 'Weeping Waflin'g Woman" and serenaded by the "Outrageous Organist," the latter provided by Walter's Music. Participants will receive a free photograph of the event froin Oshawa Camera and a certificate te comninemorate the occasion. Those participatin: in a ceremony Will nave an opportunity te, win a 'lloneymnoon" night at Ste. Ann's Inn, a wedding cake from Loblaws or an overnight tetebag from Collacutt Luggage. This event is not restricted te, adults. Valentine's of ail ages are welcome.- Agnes of Godj Superbly c.rafted presentation- By Trudie Zavadovuas The movde version of Agnes of God pales in comparison te bril- liant production put on by the WhitbyCutouse Theatre. Not only is the audience trea- tedte irt-rate actig but te music and singing that is out- standing The"tree acters were riveting as they breathed life into John Pielmeier's play about a young postulant nun named Agnes, (played by newcomer Keriln Wood) who has been indicted or ma:nsaugter in the death of her newblaby. The young in- nocent has no recollection of the conception, birth, or death of her child. Wood has mýore than done jtit a tough role. She goes from iught, playful humor te in- tense draina without cracking her persona of innocence. Christine Castaldo plays Dr. Martha Livingaton, a court psy- chiatrist who is assigned te the case, which, for her, bringe back memories of her fiee te atheism and the death her cherished sis- ter who, in the care of nuns, was not given necessary medical attention. Liigton is hired to determine whether or not Agnes is sane. It waa when watching Cas- taldo (as Livingston) alone, ta]k- ing te, the audience of her per- sonal strgle between logic and emotion, love and hate, that I first forgot I was watching a play. So real, so, compelling was her performance, it defied the audience not te feel - flot' te remember. Most actors need words te dis- play their talent. Judith Edinon- son can do it with a look. Edmon- son plays Mother Superior, head of the convent where Sister Agnes lives. Her life is tied to, Sistr Agnès' on many levels but she is always protective of Sister Agnes a.nd her innocence. The question is - for whose sake? Ednionson's performance and her singing were exquisite.- She played Mother Superior with chas and character. -In a mere second, with one look, she con- veyed fear, guiît, shame and anger. Maybe not everybody caught it, (most eyea were or Agnes, beginning to remember begining te reveal what hap- pened that. night), but it wai there te see. It is obvious when one see such a first-rate roduction, that The original music by Myr Whyte was indeed a bonus. Th; set, beautifully designed, waf pleasing te thé eye, yet subtlk and unobtrusive as were the costumes. -The acoustics and Iighting were firat-rate. The pro- duction was directed by Susan Farr and produced by Garvin Farr. . If you want te treat yourself te first-class entertairnent, this is not a maybe, it's a must. Agnes of God runs Thursday, Fria, and Saturday for the net >w weeks. Tickets are $7 for Thursday performances and $9 for Friday and Saturday per- formances. Advanoe tickets are available at Promenade Books i Pearson Lanes at 103-A Mar Street W. The play starts at 8:0( p.m. at the Courthouse Theatr1 KERJLY WOOD, Christine, Castaldo buse TeteProduction of Agnes of and Judith Edmonson give gripping- God. performances in the Whitby Court- S."......*-*.