The UPEI Sun, Novenber .26,‘ 1981, 6-

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By Pamela Shaw

Last wednesday and Thursday the faculty and students at UPEI were treated to a two day visit by the talented Tony van Bridge. His trip centred upon his performance wednesday night as the early ‘ 'Uventieth century author G.K. Chesterton, but also included a seminar, 'Koffee Klatchv and a banquet.

Mr. van Bridge, a British actor who has worked on and off in Canada since l954, presented his acclained one—man show in the Duffy Amphitheatre at 8:00 wednesday night to a large and enthUsiastic audience. It began with an orginal flourish when Mr. van Bridge entered as himself, wearing a tuxedo and an apologetic . look, gravely explaining that there was a serious problem, but the "show must go on".' A good number of the audience fell for this, actually becoming anxious for the problem to be solved. Then, as Mr. van Bridge smiled, he showed he had- fooled them by saying the problem was the fact that G.K. Chesterton had not yet arrived; he had probably missed his bus or train. But, as Chester— ton said, "The only way to catch a train is to Kiss the one innediately before."

The novelty of the Opening continued as Mr. Van Bridge chatted merrily with the audience While taking off his tuxedo, donning wool padding to give more of an idea of Chesterton's

, large form, then putting on a suit of comparable size. While he used

spirit gum to apply a

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walrous moustache and a pice-nez, he told an amusing little anecdote about how George Bernard

Shaw once prodded CheSter—>

ton in his ample

stomach and asked, "What are you going to call it?" Chesterton replied,

"Well, if it is a girl, Elizabeth. If it is a boy, Gilbert Keith.

But if it is only wind,

- I'll name-it George. _Bernard.Shaw.V

And, after he finished telling the story, he straightened up and the audience saw that Tony Van Bridge was no longer before them, but now G.K. Chesterton was in their company. ‘ Enchanted by the trans—- fornation, the audience burst into spontaneous applause.

The majority of the first act centered on Chesterton's essays, including "What I Found In My Pocket", a very pleasing piece which discussed the veritable treasure trove one finds

occasionally in one's poCket. essay was titled "TWelve Men", a rather tongue- in-check look at how the judicial system has a few quirks to it, considering the fact that they have to get men outside the law in order to\have

a jury and get things done. '

Throughout the various essays presented, Mr. Van Bridge took . advantege of Chesterton's observant and amusing remarks or "one-liners" to either fill in the space between essays (into which he led the audience smoothly) or to

‘just throw out something 7 for the audience to_laugh

at. One such quip cane when, in his character's clumsiness,

.he knocked a paperback

book off the table, then

.picked it up to show it .was a typiCal criminal

thriller, the kind.with a lurid looking corpse on the back. He showed

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this to the audience, then said it was the usual "whodunit" : "On one side there's someone shot, and On the back they tell the plot." 'After.a brief intermission, Mr. van Bridge returned to read a story calledl"The Blue Cross," which was _ ' seleCted from Chesterton's novel The Innocence of Father Brown. It was quite a feat to keep the audience interested for thirty-five minutes, but

'.Mr. Van Bridge did it

with apparent ease, althodgh he later cormented it was the Host physically exhaust- ing segment of the show. The story was a bit cenfusing, to make a lrdld understatement, and it was not until the end of the story that everyone understood the plot.

.This story ended the ‘ perfbruance and Mr. Van

Bridge was treated to a well earned burst of .applause.

The next day Mr.

van Bridge attended a

"koffee klatch" to

just sit and chat with interested persons, and this turned into another enjoyable sessions. The topics ranged from G.K.

"*Chesterton to the

evolution of Canadian: Theatre to radio drama

or the "wireless". There was a wide variety of people attending the meeting in the Chaplaincy centre, and perhaps this was one reason for the highly interesting and diverse discussion. Mr. Van Bridge, is seated, has the sane dry sense of humour as Chesterton,l ‘ and his colourful wit

' helped make the casusal '

chat session another enjoyable event.' ' - Finally, at 12:30 p;m., on Thursday, Mr. van ' Bridge was the guest of~’ honour at a banquet , held by the St. Dunstan's Board of Governors, attended by a collection‘ of profesSors from the *English”Department-as well as a grbup of if"

~5Ehgli$h3majors.”<§he.

dinner was capped by a sort of *"off the cuff" , speech by Mr. van' ,/ Bridge. Who entertained the diners with a-20 minute talk laced with nore of his engaging Wit- Apparently someone had ' . apoloqized for the,rainy/

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