Laurel Smyth on the Golden Fleece

U.PE.I. theatre society unveils new play

he theatre society will soon be produc-

T ing a show of three one-act plays, which

will be presented on November 19, 20,

and 21. Laurel Smyth is directing one of the plays.

Some readers may recall Ms. Smyth, who is most recently known for her summer perform- ance of ‘‘Shirley Valentine.’’ She is attending UPEI this year, and is in the second year of her english degree, to get the ‘‘education to go with her career.”’

Smyth has a wide range of experience to bring to UPEI, including being a puppeteer, an actor, and a director. In the past, she has di- rected two of UPEI’s productions; this year she is directing ‘“The Golden Fleece’’, which is the

continuation ofthestory of Jason and the Golden Fleece. If you are not up on your mythology, don’t worry. The play is set in the late 1960’s and focuses on Bill and Betty, played by Craig Blair and Janet MacDonald, who are awaiting the return of Jason. The dramatic comedy ex- amines the issues of conflict between men and women.

One of the things Smyth enjoys about UPEI is the opportunity to direct. As amember of the actors and directors equity union, she must adhere to strict rules in the acceptance of direct- ing jobs. Since the theatre society is a volunteer production, she can avoid some of the red tape.

Smyth did note a drawback, though: the university as a whole tends to ignore the theatre

society. She finds it difficult to co-ordinate help from the departments, even the English depart- ment. Asaresult, people involved in the society are forced to place it low their list of school priorities. She came up with an interesting idea...perhaps students involved with theatre productions could get credit for their efforts, even as a substitute for some work in a theatre class. After all, you learn more from doing something than from simply reading it. Smyth noted there has been a poor faculty turnout at previous productions, and urges us all to ‘‘come out and support the theatre society and see what we can do.”’ ALDERA CHISHOLM

AVAILABLE AT: RED SHOES. 119-121 Queen St.

November 4, 1993/X-Press/15