his role Sharkey «Arts & Entertainment OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Oakville Beaver Entertainment Editor: C a rd Baldwin 845-3824 (Extension 254) Fax: 337-5567 United Way Community Day Sunday, Sept. 26 - noon-4pm Downtown Oakville 36th Annual Bath Tub Race Agency Fair Walk-a-thon For more info: 845-5571 The War Show Music, laughter and tears to honour Jon C o lm m l as D id s * -e n * s happv to ignore the order kjs sergeant (Steve D «shnevl, right, i s barking. Joe P arri, holding Lisa kaioville and Debbie \to d d a r d , also seems Wednesday, September 8, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C9 Canadians involved in World War II By C a ro l B a ld w in ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR W est End Studio Theatre (W.E.S.T) is on the cutting edge once again as it opens the Oakville Drama Series this season with a new Canadian play, You 'll Get Used To It: The War Show or simply The War Show for short. Despite its title, this play, written by Peter Colley, is funny as well as poignant, says artistic director Yilmaz Mustafa. And it's a musical of sorts, which, he says, fulfills their theatre company's mandate to introduce musicals to the Drama Series. "It isn't a musical per se; it's a play with music in it. There are one or two songs written for the show, but the rest are from the era, like the Andrew Sisters and Glenn Miller - music from 1939 to '45," he explains. "And there's quite a bit of comedy - everything from bathroom humour to sophisticated humour. I don't think the play will offend anybody." The soldiers do, of course, smoke on stage. But, says Mustafa, that's what soldiers did, and he wants this production to reflect the lives of ordi nary soldiers since the play is a trib ute to them. "I think it's a great give-back to the Canadian veterans of World War II," he says. "It's not about heroes. It's not about Hitler or Churchill. It is about everyday people - the women who stayed behind, the soldiers who fought. It is about common heroes. It moves you - you laugh; you cry; you sing along." And, he adds, the audience will be encouraged to sing-along with the large cast - 21 in all. W.E.S.T. has also decided to add three matinee performances for this production - one on Saturday and one on Sunday for seniors, and a third on Wednesday to accommodate school trips. The ticket price for these three afternoon shows will be discounted. "Sometimes seniors want to come and see the shows but don't have the transportation. And after 9 o'clock, especially in the fall, it gets dark and they don't want to come out. And I don't blame them," explains Mustafa. "So this is the reason why we're doing the weekend matinees, mainly for the seniors and the legions because I think it's a lot easier to organize a day trip than it is a night trip." This particular production repre sents a few firsts for W.E.S.T. since its move to Oakville. Along with opening the Drama Series with a musical, which is also a new play, W.E.S.T. is rehearsing for The War Show in its own space and has hired two new directors of marketing - Marilyn Spencer and Leigh Davi son. Spencer says she would like to concentrate more on the activities that will be tak ing place in the new studio while Davison focuses on the individual productions. The fact that W.E.S.T. has recruited two marketing direc tors to promote its activities reflects the suc cess of the new kid on the block in Oakville's theatre commu nity. "We are doing well, but we want to do even better. We want the studio to become the hub of activities in the arts - poetry readings, jazz nights," explains Mustafa. "We have enough room at the stu dio to turn it into a 50 to 60 seat house, so we can do some of the alternative the atre that proba bly wouldn't go over that well at AUDITIONS For the 1999/2000 Season Saturday, September 18,1999 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at The Oakville School of Dancing 260 Robinson Street Oakville, ON L6J 1G6 For further information and audition form s please call 905- 844-7035 A Youth Ballet Company for Dancers Aged 12-20 Performances staged throughout the year including The Nutcracker with the Oakville Symphony Orchestra the Oakville Centre." According to Mustafa, the plays presented by members of the Drama Series are designed to provide pure entertainment, whereas W.E.S.T. would like to produce a few issue- related plays that provoke thought. W.E.S.T. is also doing well with its acting classes, adding film acting to its workshop program this year along with qualified instructors from each field. The new film acting instructor, Mustafa says, is a former teacher with the Vancouver School of Film. Anyone interested in the acting workshops, which begin the week of Sept. 27th, can call W.E.S.T. at 845- WEST (9378). But, those interested in seeing The War Show, which will be on stage at the Oakville Centre for the Perform ing Arts from Sept. 16th to 19th and from Sept. 22nd to 25th, can visit or call the box office at 130 Navy St. (815-2021) weekdays from noon to 5 p.m. or Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $18. Photo by Peter J. Thompson Introducing... The Fall 1999 Big M IK E M ANDEL O ct. 15 & 16 In the Studio Theatre 8:30 p.m. 2:00 8:00 p.m. P A TR IC IA O 'CALLAGHAN O c t. 2 3 8:30 p .m . In the Studio Theatre Oakville Centre's Ticket Line Up! PLUS Desrosiers Dance Theatre M ichelle Wright Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra Canadian Tribute to Glenn Miller Colin James &. The Little Big Band (second show just added) Albert Schultz I Can Sing (Can't I?) Franklin the Turtle Leave the Porch Light On... The Oakville Children's Choir The Barra MacNeils The Nutcracker Mr. Scrooge FOR TICKETS CALL (905) 815-2021 or visit us at, 130 Navy Street Monday to Friday, noon to 5 p.m. or two hours before show time. THE OAKVILLE CENTRE The Oakville Beaver offz lz iV ,pZ Z ofThe Oakville Centre ALL TICKETS NOW ON SALE! The Oakville Ballet Company Now open from lla.m. till 2a.m. daily! The new slots are ready at Mohawk Raceway , so you can now play your favourites -- including Double Diamond, Blazing 7's and 10 Times Pay -- any day of the week. Ask about the rewards of joining The Winner's Circle, too, the new club especially for people who love slots. Anyone can join and membership is FREE!' So next time you drop by Mohawk Raceway, try out the slots and discover 750 new ways to set your heart racing! NEW! 750 SLOTS AT MOHAWK RACETRACK SLOTS I KM NORTH OF HWY 4 0 1 ON GUELPH LINE They're off! See official rules for details at Mohawk Racetrack Slots. Oakville Beaver Entertainment Editor: Card Baldwin 845-3824 (Extension 254) Fax: 337-5567 United Way Community Day The War Show Music, laughter and tears to honour Canadians involved in World War II For the 1999/2000 Season Saturday, September 18,1999 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at The Oakville School of Dancing 260 Robinson Street Oakville, ON L6J 1G6 A Youth Ballet Company for Dancers Aged 12-20 Photo by Peter J. Thompson Introducing... The Fall 1999 Big In the Studio Theatre In the Studio Theatre Oakville Centre's Ticket Line Up! PLUS (905) 815-2021 The Oakville Ballet Company