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14 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, Sept. 24, 1985 Part of Town Hall 1873 subscription series Famous People Players bedazzle audience by Diane Lackie It certainly was a '1.t tle Like Magic," Victor Davies' signature number of the Famous People Players, when they tricked the eyes of their Town Hall 1873 au- dience last Saturday afternoon and evening Using cleverly designed and manipulated black hght techmques with larger-than-hfe puppets and a staggering assort ment of props. the troupe of fourteen players bemused and bedazzled their viewers with a series of vignettes, medleys, take-offs of lamous people (their specialty), an onginal version of, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and even a 'take-off on a take-off' -- hterally. Saturday's matinee was planned for young people and they arrived in droves to marvel at the wizardry of the per- formers and the amazing puppets. Crowd pleasers were the whimsical bear and bee, a duel over a honey pot, the aquarium, a dreamy underwater fantasy sel to Saint Saens, and an outsize Michael Jackson, com- plete with all sorts of flash and dash. Other 'celebrities' who ap- peared were Cindi Lauper with 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun/' Kenny Rogers and "Gam- ler," and Barbara Strei- sand who closed the show as the cast visibly bowed out in the finale The signature number featuring a disembodied top hat, cane, gloves and HWY. 7A - HOURS Sunday Thursday 1100 AM to 1000 P Friday and Saturday 1100 AM to 100 AM shoes, appeared as the troupe's logo as well as in the capacity of a delightful 'magic' routine The performance was so swift and adept, and the hghting, complete with chasers and shifting colours, so mesmerizing, that the viewers were continually forced to ask 'Now how did they do that?' while bones rattl- ed in space, shoes hop ped about in strange locations, fish flew and gant hips hovered in mid air The youngsters lov- ed it The evening perfor: mance, aimed at a wider age group and offered as Town Hall 1873's Subscription Series '85-'86 Tenth Anniver- sary Gala opening at- traction, added a vivacious liza Minelli proclaiming 'New York, New York," and a 'Welcome Back' diver- tissement. It also im- pressed its more mature audience with two diverse numbers. James Bond's 007 was captured with a wary white-suited agent in a medley of famous themes such as Nobody Does It Better, Goldfinger, For Your Eyes Only, and You On- ly Live Twice; witch doc- tors, gorgeous gals, Odd- Job, and spiders bedevill- ed Bond, but he 'got 'em in the end," through a giant golden spider web. A new version of old favourites. A second number, the witty 'Takeoff on a Take Off' was performed in both shows by the director Diane Dupuy This strip took it all off What re- mained" Nothing hterally One other number saluting the world of entertainment had the likes of Cap'n Hook, An- nie and Sandy, Fred and Ginger, Sweeney Todd, New York's Guardian Angels and many other characters mixing it up on-stage. Every puppet and prop was a tribute to its creator's ingenuity. The heads of the Famous People, for the record, are especially created in los Angeles at a cost of $6,000 per head, or more, and are very carefully handled at all times. Sound 1s precision recorded and mixed and the puppets' actions cued to it and to the lighting. Famous People Play- ers in a troupe of twenty, smartly attired in basic black and white, plus jovial driver Dave Balin- sky, who remembered Lake Scugog well from his youth. The cast is comprised of a mixed group of mentally han- dicapped young adults and professional per- formers. These include: Darlene Arsenault, San- dra Ciccone, Charleen Clarke, Benny D'Onofrio, Bruce Keefe, Greg Kozak, Debbie L.im, Debbie Rossen, Neil and Mary Thomp- son (brother and sister actors) and Alison Shin. 'A Little Like Magic,' the dancing hat routine, 1s sung and danced by Angelo Montanera, another performer, while Paul Pawluk doubles as performer and road manager. Affable Kim Hansen handles props and acts as road crew, along with Joe Lesmak and Gord and Ted Bill- inger Shelly Whiteway 1s the companies stage manager and John Cor- rigan the assistant. But Famous People Players would never have been formed without someone's prior perception and vision. Founded in 1974 by their intense, hard driving director Diane Dupuy, who early in her career felt that special people need not all be institu- tionalized, but rather could acquire a degree of independence and per- sonal pride, given rigid training routines and ground rules, the players have now achieved inter- national acclaim and wide success, ever ex- panding their repertoire of routines. They are supported by such celebrities as Liberace who appears onstage in puppet form in a delightful satire with a Latin beat entitled 'Aruba Liberace." Ms. Dupuy is often approach- ed by parents of special children in hopes she will add them to the troupe, but only a limited number can be trained to reach the degree of discipline and expertise needed for the com- plicated routines and demanding performance schedule. Some troupe members live in with the director for periods of time in order to increase their knowledge of basic life skills. Home base at present is Toronto. RESERVATIONS Now Accepted For THANKSGIVING MONDAY 3 SITTINGS - 3:00; 5:30 or 7:30 P.M. Please call early as seating is limited. * Roast Turkey and Gravy * Roast Beet and Gravy * Ham Steak and Fresh Pineapple (above items served with all © » INCLUDES Tomato Jue, Tossed Salad, Pumpkin or Coconut Cream Pie, Tea, Coffee or Soft Drink '8.95.. Children Under 12 Years ... $3.95 "immings) Don't forget our All-day Sunday Buffet SERVED FROM 11 00 AM And our Thursday & Friday Lunch Buffet SERVED FROM 11 30 AM OUR MENU ITEMS ARE SERVED ALL DAY from MONDAY to SATURDAY CONWAY PLACE At the CAUSEWAY to 900 PM to 200 PM © | 985-1631 The Players' current Ontario tour concludes with performances at Harbourfront, in London. and at the Royal York's Gala for retiring Lieute- nant Governor of On- tario, John Black Aird. Following these shows, the troupe heads out on a four-month swing through the Southern American states, among them Texas. Louisiana and Florida Audiences there are sure to find out, as Port Perry did, that these performers and their shows are indeed a 'Little Like Magic.' Oh yes, the secret to their magic" tell The upcoming Town Hall 1873 Subscription Series production will be the Cambridge Buskers on October 30th. ga rollicking evening of music and fun in the street musician mode. I'll never Famous People Players director Diane Dupuy. Metro East Home Show opens centre When the Metro East Trade Centre officially opens its doors on Oc- tober 2, it will become the largest exhibit com- plex between Yonge Street and Montreal. This new marketplace will be inaugurated with the opening of the ex- citing First Annual Metro East Home Show -- Canada's Largest Fall Home Show, October 2-3-4-5, 1985. Touch Stone Design Studio of Greenbank will be among the more than 450 displays and exhibits giving you innovative ideas for your home whether you're renovating. landscaping, decorating, furnishing. designing. winterizing, or making home im- provements the ex: perts at the Metro East Home Show will provide vou with products, ser vices and ideas This premier showing of the Metro East Home Show gives you more to see, more to do and offers everything that's new all the latest in home and garden products. fur nshire< and services beaut :ful displays. new and exciting features and great ideas [earn from the experts at Lymbird Lumber s "Home Improvement Workshop = See Ontario Hvdro's Filmore the Talking Fumace Get ad- vice from energy experts for your windows. designers and con- sultants. Meet collector plate artists ... John Lit- tle John, James Lum- bard, Shirley Deaville, Christine Wilson and Janet McKernan. Have your print autographed by Marine Wildlife artist Roy Henry Wright. Join in the fun and celebration at The Metro Last Home Show -- Canada's Largest Fall Home Show. Be enter- tained ... Save on hun- dreds of show specials ... Win Door Prizes ... Enter Contests and Draws Free Balloons ... Funny Clowns ... Bring the whole family ... there is something for everyone October 2-3-4-5, at The Metro East Home Show, Metro East Trade Cen- tre, Brock Road and Highway 401. For All Your Automotive Needs ... New ® Used ® Leasing Williamson Chevrolet | d Pontiac Oldsmobile Ux ni ge Buick VRC USTOMERS SEND THEIR FRIENDS Uxbridge 852-3357 Toronto 294-9010 Hwy. 47 South, Res. 985-8997 Uxbridge Whether you're wanting to move up to an '85 or looking for a good deal on a used car see me today! BRIAN NORRISH