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Auburn Annie · 08-04-2007, 03:50 PM

Speaking of Ian & Sylvia et al:

Sing along in the Early Morning Rain

4 Strong Winds is a musical trip to a time when folk-singing ensembles were a feature of high school life

MATT RADZ, The Gazette

Ancient enough to know what the word "hootenanny" actually means? The Village Theatre has a must-see show for the sing-along crowd of yore.

If you doubt for a minute that nostalgia never gets old, you haven't seen 4 Strong Winds, a four-voice wallow in the back catalogues of the Kingston Trio, the pre-electric Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Harry Belafonte and such lesser-known heroes of the folk era as Phil Ochs, whose Changes signalled that this is a show for everyone - over 50.

If you've been wondering where all the flowers had gone, look no further than Hudson, a pretty little town that's looking even more relaxed than usual, now that just about everyone, except the guys who shift those orange detour signs around the highways, is taking a holiday.

Quarterbacked by the play's co-author Michael Booth Palmer (who, unlike the other three cast members, is a much better musician than he is an actor), Bruce Dinsmore, Felicia Shulman and Andrew Johnston harmonize to good effect, leading us on a long, winding walk down memory lane that had Thursday's opening-night crowd humming right along, many of them on key.

Back in the day, no respectable school was without a proliferation of folk-singing ensembles and 4 Strong Winds were the best of the lot at Hudson High School. As the play opens, Tom, now a fussy donut magnate played by Dinsmore, frets whether his former bandmates will join him in the musty old music room during the Class of 1970 reunion.

Never fear, the others soon arrive, packing along all the favourites - If I Had a Hammer, Blowin' in the Wind, the Banana Boat Song (Day-O), Leavin' on a Jet Plane. ... You can easily guess the rest.

The Cancon spotlight falls mostly on Lightfoot, with Did She Mention My Name; that famous Railroad thing; Only a Go-Go Girl (ask gramps); and, of course, Early Mornin' Rain.

The 4 Strong Winds bring a lot of love to the reunion, saving Ian and Sylvia's great Canadian classic, from which the group takes its name, for the finale.

Warning: Banjo playing during every performance.

4 Strong Winds, by Michael Booth Palmer and Harry Parsons, directed by Corey Castle, until Aug. 19 at the Hudson Village Theatre, Wednesday to Saturday at 8 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets $26 and $29. Go to www.villagetheatre.ca or call 450-458-5361.

08-04-2007, 03:50 PM	#11
Auburn Annie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 3,101	Speaking of Ian & Sylvia et al: Sing along in the Early Morning Rain 4 Strong Winds is a musical trip to a time when folk-singing ensembles were a feature of high school life MATT RADZ, The Gazette Ancient enough to know what the word "hootenanny" actually means? The Village Theatre has a must-see show for the sing-along crowd of yore. If you doubt for a minute that nostalgia never gets old, you haven't seen 4 Strong Winds, a four-voice wallow in the back catalogues of the Kingston Trio, the pre-electric Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Harry Belafonte and such lesser-known heroes of the folk era as Phil Ochs, whose Changes signalled that this is a show for everyone - over 50. If you've been wondering where all the flowers had gone, look no further than Hudson, a pretty little town that's looking even more relaxed than usual, now that just about everyone, except the guys who shift those orange detour signs around the highways, is taking a holiday. Quarterbacked by the play's co-author Michael Booth Palmer (who, unlike the other three cast members, is a much better musician than he is an actor), Bruce Dinsmore, Felicia Shulman and Andrew Johnston harmonize to good effect, leading us on a long, winding walk down memory lane that had Thursday's opening-night crowd humming right along, many of them on key. Back in the day, no respectable school was without a proliferation of folk-singing ensembles and 4 Strong Winds were the best of the lot at Hudson High School. As the play opens, Tom, now a fussy donut magnate played by Dinsmore, frets whether his former bandmates will join him in the musty old music room during the Class of 1970 reunion. Never fear, the others soon arrive, packing along all the favourites - If I Had a Hammer, Blowin' in the Wind, the Banana Boat Song (Day-O), Leavin' on a Jet Plane. ... You can easily guess the rest. The Cancon spotlight falls mostly on Lightfoot, with Did She Mention My Name; that famous Railroad thing; Only a Go-Go Girl (ask gramps); and, of course, Early Mornin' Rain. The 4 Strong Winds bring a lot of love to the reunion, saving Ian and Sylvia's great Canadian classic, from which the group takes its name, for the finale. Warning: Banjo playing during every performance. 4 Strong Winds, by Michael Booth Palmer and Harry Parsons, directed by Corey Castle, until Aug. 19 at the Hudson Village Theatre, Wednesday to Saturday at 8 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets $26 and $29. Go to www.villagetheatre.ca or call 450-458-5361.