E IT Preparations underï By JANET BROWNE The first thing you notice when you walk through the doors of the Whitby Little Theatre is that it lives up to its name. Itlis little. But it isn't small and claustronobic like a closet-more like an exclusive underground playhouse that hasseats enough for only true theatre cqnnaisseurs. "It's intimate and bas excellent sound," says president Burt Heaver, one of the founding mem- bers of the group. He recalls being asked by an adjudicator following a 43-member performance of Fiddler on the Roof, whether he hung the actors on hangers backstage bet- ween scenes, as it was unbelievable that so many actors could be ac- commodated. Heaver admits that he would prefer to see the group in a larger home, but he, like the majority of the 140 Little Theatre members, he has become attached to the quaint, historic theatre with its high cathedral ceiling and stained woodwork. While the theatre is physically small, Heaver feels that the quality of the productions throughout the years has brought the theatre up to par with any of the larger ones. "I'd rate our group as being as healthy and respected as any other group in Ontario," he says. "We're past our old dramatic days." Overcoming the midwest accent The theatre, located at Centre St., undergoes a hiatus over the summer, but in the past month, the fall production of the musical 'Oklahoma' has come into full swing. The actors, singers, dan- cers, stage hands and anyone else involved have been spending Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the theatre rehearsing for the nine days of performance at the end of October and beginning of Novem- ber. As usual, tickets for the final days of performance are already sold out. A handful of the actors at the theatre are now, or have been, professionally involved in theatre but the majority are amateurs from across Durham who have a particular interest in some aspect of dramatic arts. When Everett MacIlwain decided to lend his talents to the Little Theatre, he landed not only the lead male role of 'Curly' in Oklahoma, but the position of musical director for the production as well. "With Oklahoma on my plate, it's going to take up a lot of my time," says the 32-year-old Ajax resident who last performed as an actor back in high school. "It'll be a busy production, but there are good singers, a good cast and a lot of good talent for a small theatre." MacIlwain is one of 10 men cast in acting roles compared to six females. "This one is pretty heavy on the men's side," he says, "It's easy to find women actresses, but there are a lot fewer men in the amateur end." " One of the most difficult problems for the actors to over- come for this play is the midwest accent spoken by the characters not only in speech but in song. "You don't want to drop the ac- cent in the song, because in a musical, (the songs) are part of the character's dialogue. It's very easy to let the accent go out the door, and concentrate on your singing. "We've made an agreement," he adds. "As soon as we walk in the door, until the moment we leave, we must speak in the accent. When you hear everybody else doing it, you find it a lot easier." Like -any performer, MacIlwain has his share of concerns while in front of an audience, especially in a production like Oklahoma that is familiar to them. "I'll be singing," he says, imagi- ning the worst, "and l'Il get a blank about what the next line is, but l'Il have to keep singing because the music doesn't stop. You've got to make sure you know your lines down pat because a lot of people in the audience know the songs just as well as the cast. You've got to makew sure you don't get overconfident." Five-piece orchestra A pianist will provide musical accompaniment during the rehearsals over the next two mon- ths, but MacIlwain plans to in- troduce a small, five-piece or- chestra into the production two weeks prior to opening night. A pianist, clarinetist, percussionist, violinist and a bassist will per- form from the balcony above the audience. "It's a small orchestra, but it isn't a very big theatre," says Macllwain. "We don't want to blow anybody away." While the actors on stage are the focal point of the audience; most of the theatre members agree that at least twice as many people are in- vqlved behind the scenes during any production, controlling the lighting and sound, costume changes, make-up application, prop and scene changes and organizing the actors coming to and from the stage. "What goes on backstage is the most difficult part of a performan- ce," says Deb Schregardus, the choreographer for Oklahoma. "It's the whole mathematics of getting everybody to the right place at the right time in the right costume to the right scene - and it's all done in the dark." Since she and husband Henry joined the theatre group two years ago, Deb Schregardus has been responsible for choreographing each of the musicals. "I start from scratch, you pretty well have to," she says, adding that only very few of the performers are trained dancers. "Some numbers take a long time, some just come to you. It's fun, I get a chance to be really creative." The Schregardus' are two of the members who are professionally involved in the entertainment world, and met while running various parts of the entertainment shows at Canada's Wonderland. Henry Schregardus produced the concerts, fireworks shows, laser shows as well as the Hanna Bar- bara attraction, while Deb Schregardus was stage manager for the Canturbury Theatre. But neither do professionally "I design Henry Schre living." He used to c commercials adjustable bec cast as a chari days as a profe "I played s strange voice someone who v It was never someone elses. the character a The days of horse's hooves as thunder ari sound effects j cassettes or c played duri Creating visu called for in quite so easy. For a theatr added challer Schregardus, t producer in ch and well-beini "You've got to a small stage, creativity." Fc was needed i Schregardus sa "magic of lighti stream of wate rain. Nothing , needed in Oklal "Musicals, in for a lot of speci "Usdally the enough with singing that is g Youti geari While the adu theatre are bus their productic members are jt the auditions Christmas show. Acting ability, is not a prerequi Little Theatre Y< ding to this ordinafor, David "If you know paint brush, or k; hammer to use, says Stone, an o1 ds time between himself to the t have to have tal at school to c willing to put f commit yourself of things to do ou Membership i which is now at towards people Stone says your welcome to joir ticipates in two tions annually, a workshops throu months. Lined ul performance is Man Charlie Bro for the producti the end of Septen "It's a fairly Stone. "The char of three or fou speech and tho adultized. "It's importar realize that ther that they're goint adds. "We're put the public is pa) have to go accc EVERETT MacILWAIN of Ajax (r) not only got the lead role in "Oklahoma" but also the position of musical director for the production. f1 PAGF 11, WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9,1987