The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

4 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, October 5, 1999 orelians set o stage On olden Pond By Jeff Mitchell ort Perry Star Actors are hard at work once more on the stage of Town Hall 1873, rehearsing for the Borelians' production of On Golden Pond. The cast and crew are half-way through their rehearsal schedule, and are polishing their act for opening night of the play, Oct. 21, at Port Perry's community theatre. Director Ruth Smith was at the theatre Sunday afternoon, putting half the six-member cast through their paces as they fine-tuned scenes. They have worked their way through the difficult "block- ing" process, deciding how and where characters move about the stage as the play unfolds, and now are delving deeper into the script and characteriza- tions. This is the second play Mrs. Smith has directed for The Borelians. Her first was the popular pro- duction of The Dining Room. She has also helmed half a dozen plays for the Uxbridge Players, and has experience acting on the local stage. She's hoping audiences here will embrace On Golden Pond, a play that, while well-known because of the movie version starring Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn and Jane Fonda, has been pro- duced infrequently on stage over the past couple of decades. The Ernest Thompson play tells the story of Norman Thayer (Port Perry actor Ed Daigle, seen in the Borelians' production of The Stillborn Lover in February) and his wife Ethel (Irene Lubowitz) and their meeting with estranged daughter Chelsea (Margo Rogers) at the family cottage. Borelians' veteran David Ellis plays Billy Ray, Chelsea's fiance, and 13-year-old Howie Gordon has been cast as his young son. John Fitzgerald plays Charlie. Stage manager for the production is Joanne Norman. - Mrs. Smith has been studying the play for more than a year, since it was approved this fall by The Borelains. "I saw this play in a book store, and it just leapt out at me as what The Borelians are looking for," she said. "It's familiar, but it also has some depth." The cast and crew are working with intensity now, in preparation for the six-night run later this month, Oct. 21 to 23, and Oct. 28 to 30. Mrs. Smith said she and her cast are working toward the same goal: Staging a quality production. Although these are amateurs working in commu- Director Ruth Smith looks on intently as veteran actor Ed Daigle (Norman) rehearses opening scene of On Golden Pond Sunday afternoon. Below at left, Irene Lubowitz (Ethel) strikes a pose. The Borelians will stage Ernest Thompson's well- known play at Town Hall 1873 in Port Perry Oct. 21 to 23 and Oct. 28 to 30. For tickets, call Henshall's at 985-1965. nity theatre, they take their tasks and challenges very seriously, she said: "Audiences pay to come in and see these shows. You owe it to them to give them the best you can." She continues to be impressed by the dedication of community theatre members, who take a lot of risks in putting on shows for their friends and neighbours. "It's people doing it for the love of it," she said. "It's amazing the time and energy that goes into it. "To have that kind of love and passion is what makes it worthwhile." ] Tickets for the fall production of On Golden Pond are on sale now. For reserved seating, you can call Henshall's Clothiers at 985-1965. Thursday tickets are two for one. For more information on the production, call 985- 0579. T Top supporters recognized at Ducks Unlimited dinner By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Supporters were rewarded for their donations to Ducks Unlimited when the Port Perry chapter held its annual din- ner and auction last week. The annual fundraiser for Ducks Unlimited -- which celebrated its 15th year in Port Perry -- was yet another success, said local chairman Ray Doucette. More than 230 people were in atten- dance for the fundraiser, which had slightly better results than the year before, he added. A silent auction was the evening's main fundraiser. An awards presentation saw five area residents honoured for their con- tributions to the local chapter. Ron and Eva Redman -- who operate . Ives Florist in Port Perry -- were pre- sented with the Pewter and Teal Award for their donations over the years, which have exceeded $5,000. Local lawyer Michael Fowler was also a recipient of the award, for gift in kind donations exceeding $5,000, as well as a Diamond Sponsor Award for his cash contributions equalling more than $5,000. Kerry Willoughby was presented with a life sponsor decoy, and the big award of the night was given to Patrick Neal for his outstanding contributions to conservation. "His award was not for cash or gift in kind donations, but for going that extra mile for conservation," said Mr. Doucette. "He has been with the Port Perry Ducks Unlimited chapter for 15 years, and has gone beyond the call of duty. ""It is our top award and it's not given out very often. Whoever receives this does a lot for the conservation of wet- lands." The annual dinner and auction is a fundraiser for Ducks Unlimited to con- tinue on with its goal of preserving the nation's wetlands, said Mr. Doucette. AN { Nr oy, a More than 230 people were in attendance at the Scugog Community Centre last week when the Port Perry chapter of Ducks Unlimited held its annual dinner and auction fundraiser.- Taking a look at some of the goods available were Oshawa's Phil Zeller, left, and Craig Dove of Solina.