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weekender february 7 1987 p35 playwright really a teen at heart bypaulpivato mike johnston ibm systems nalyst and 48yearold father of ive insists hes really a teena- er at heart how else do you explain his de- sire to write a play in which jean- clad teenagers storm parliament f and grapple with the complex issues of the day or the play he has just penned macarthur park in which teena gers from a small ontario town force a large manufacturing com pany to stop producing parts for nuclear warheads the heroic teens that mike johnston portrays in his plays are more concerned with drug abuse and nuclear disarmament than heavy metal music and acne medicine but says mr johnston looking at world problems through the eyes of a teenager gives his plays afresh and honest approach the emmelord cres resident founded the unionville theatre company six years ago in order to get his children involved in drama he wrote adventure at big trout lake and staged the play in his basement using painted walls as his backdrop and old chairs for audience seating macarthur park his fourth play is a 2700 production that will be staged at markham theatre a far cry from the crude performances of the com panys novice years and yet unionvilles well- known bard says he never thought he would one day take up writing english was always my worst mark in school he says i guess ive always been a frustrated wri ter though looking at the plays hes writ ten over the years dramas ab out drug abuse and underpri vileged children it becomes clear that mike johnston uses the stage in much the same way a preacher works the pulpit im a crusader says the wri ter no doubt about it crusading for a cause is the only time im happy although he believes his cru sades are inspired by the same 5ft 80 off nationally suggested retail prices oadiscontinued lines and surplus inventory of name brand diniierware glassware flatware and giftware beep discounts on a wide assortment of brand new first quality merchandise join the many satisfied customers who have become regulars at the outlet the ghesta glass outlet 3477 kennerbkjivliit 7 i v ikxksciiihofstciy scarborough fetepftime 2998443 warehouse sale prices all year round earlyweek early bird wdmr of markham family dinner specials introduce your family to a fine dining experience monday tuesday wednesday between 530 pm 730 pm the menu soup of the day or house salad choice of milk fed veal sauteed with parmesan cheese fresh fettucini with pancetta and shitake mushrooms in cream sauce breast of chicken with sausage and pistachio stuffing and orange tomato sauce then creme caramel or chocolate mousse adults 1395 children 895 under 12 years 144 main st markham 4711772 cc snacks for a superb meal after great success in pickering su per centre mall with cc snacks sacs restaurant colet cecil decided to open a second res taurant in markham cc snacks a takeout only establish ment cc snacks located in the super employee centre mall features fresh salads beryl cleaver hot daily luncheon specials home made soups jamaican beef patties curried chicken rice and much more 1661 denison st markham 4776938 gospel message that guides preachers mike johnston says he is very unreligious im moved by feelings for un fortunate peoples confesses mr johnston by compassion but his compassion doesnt just extend to the edge of the stage or the tip of the pen thirteen years ago the johnston family adopted two homeless children from viet nam and korea our society can be shallow at times he says you see it at parties where theres a certain underlying feeling that you shouldnt talk about real issues like starving children while writing the antiwar macarthur park mr johnston became involved with local peace groups and has since been elected chairman of markham citizens for nuclear disarmament when talking about the nuclear irms buildup the normally soft- jpoken writer grows angry his tone becomes harsher look whats going on at darlington were going to be manufacturing fuel for these bloody weapons and although he readily admits that his play might offend some people mr johnston brushes off any criticism that he is an idealist the people who are idealis tic he explains are the people who think were too civilized to have a nuclear war basically people dont think much about nuclear war says the admitted pacifist whose car bumper is plastered with stickers calling for an end to the arms race i was going to put some stick ers on the door too he adds laughing but my wife said the bumper was enough mr johnston recently announced that one of his earlier plays about drug abuse soda has been booked at markham theatre for an october engage ment and he is currently researching material for his next play fatso which looks at the plight of people with eating disorders but right now mr johnston is busy preparing for his first large- scale opening its the kind of play beams the mustachioed writer that could really appeal to kids not surprising especially considering it was written by a selfproclaimed bornagain teenager macarthur park will play at markham theatre next thurs day february 12 at 8 pm tickets are 5 for more information call the theatre box office at 4790201 zza delight well give you 12 off the regular price of a delight special or hawaiian connection pizza sunday february 8th to thursday february 12th only limit one per customer per day dine in or take it out but dont miss it 4580 highway 7 east kennedy road highway 7 unionville mews 4757377 licensed by llbo 1 z az hwt7 t uni0kv1uc a ec 5 g s hth i steu save 1 lfekt f