New Theatre Project, How About Opera House

RICHARD KARON BIOGRAPHY AND TRIBUTE VIDEO ON SCHEDULE FOR THIS COMING MONDAY, ON THIS SITE

I WANTED TO SHARE AN IMAGE OF A KARON PAINTING WITH YOU, AS A PREAMBLE TO THE UPCOMING BIOGRAPHY. IT IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF A PAINTING OWNED BY JOYCE MEDLEY, OF BRACEBRIDGE, WHO, WITH HER HUSBAND, HAD PURCHASED THE ORIGINAL ART PANEL MORE THAN FORTY YEARS AGO, ON AN OCCASION WHEN RICHARD KARON WAS SELLING HIS WORK, FROM A BOOTH HE HAD SET UP, AT THE BRACEBRIDGE HOME SHOW, HELD AT THE MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTRE, ON JAMES STREET. MRS. MEDLEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MR. KARON HAD INDICATED, AT THE TIME, THE PAINTING WAS OF A SMALL LAKE NEAR HIS HOME / STUDIO, NEAR BAYSVILLE. THE WORK WAS DONE WITH A PALETTE KNIFE. MRS. MEDLEY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO HAVE HER PAINTING PHOTOGRAPHED, SO THAT I COULD HAVE AN IMAGE TO INCLUDE WITH THE BIOGRAPHY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT IS A WONDERFUL DEPICTION OF THE SCENERY IN THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS.

MUSKOKA THEATRE PROJECT OFFERS A BREATH OF RENEWAL -

THERE NEEDS TO BE A LIAISON COMMITTEE BETWEEN POTENTIAL FACILITY USERS, THE VENUE, AND THE TOWN

CONSIDER THIS WISHFUL THINKING, AND ENTIRELY "OUT OF ORDER" AND ALTOGETHER NERVY TO SUGGEST THIS, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO THINK, THE NEW MUSKOKA THEATRE PROJECT PROMOTERS, WILL CONSIDER THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE, AS A POSSIBLE VENUE IN THE FUTURE. I WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THEIR MEETING THIS EVENING (WEDNESDAY), SO I'M JUMPING THE GUN HERE BY A COUNTRY MILE…..INFUSING AN OPINION THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPRECIATED. ACCEPT MY APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE FOR BUDDING-IN. IT'S JUST THE WAY I AM. A PAIN IN THE ARSE. BUT AN ENTHUSIASTIC PAIN IN THE ARSE!

I WAS CERTAINLY PLEASED TO READ ABOUT THE EXCITING NEW MUSKOKA THEATRE PROJECT, ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IN THE GRAVENHURST BANNER. I'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR SOME TIME, BUT ONLY A FEW DETAILS, REGARDING ITS FUTURE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF OPERATION.

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, ONE OF THE PROJECT'S ORGANIZERS, VINCE GRITTANI, WHO I HAVE WORKED WITH AT PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS, EMAILED ME REGARDING A BLOG I'D WRITTEN EARLIER, ABOUT THEATRE RENEWAL AT THE GRAVENHURST OPERA HOUSE. I WAS TOLD ABOUT AN UPCOMING MEETING, AND I DON'T THINK, AT THE TIME, I SENT BACK A NOTE OF CONGRATULATIONS, TO THIS HARD-WORKING, RESILIANT THEATRE GUY. HE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS "COTTAGE GUY," CARTOON, CARRIED BY REGIONAL PUBLICATIONS.

I DON'T HAVE A LONG OR SUCCESSFUL TENURE IN THE THEATRE BUSINESS. MINE WAS A VERY SHORT-LIVED GIG. I SERVED BRIEFLY ON THE LAST BOARD OF THE MUSKOKA FESTIVAL, AND FOR MANY YEARS I REVIEWED THEIR PLAYS FOR THE HERALD-GAZETTE AND THE MUSKOKA SUN. IT WAS THE CONTINUATION OF A WONDERFUL THEATRE HISTORY IN THIS COMMUNITY, BUT ONE THAT ENDED BADLY WITH MONEY OWING, AND NO SHOWS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE HERE AND IN THE LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY, WILL REMEMBER OF THE FINAL YEARS OF WHAT HAD BEEN A GRAVENHURST TRADITION. I WAS SORRY TO SEE IT ALL END. SO WAS EVERYONE ON THAT FINAL COMMITTEE. I HAD BEEN IN CHARGE OF ARCHIVES MATERIAL AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. BY THIS TIME, THE ONLY PUBLIC RELATIONS MESSAGE TO RELAY, WAS "SORRY FOLKS, SHOW'S OVER."

MARY GAIR IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MUSKOKA THEATRE PROJECT, ACCORDING TO THE APRIL 11TH, BANNER ARTICLE, WITH GRITTANI, THE WRITER, AS THE ACCOMPLISHED SIDE-KICK, BOTH BRINGING A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO THE FLEDGLING THEATRE PROJECT. I ADMIRE THEIR FORTITUDE AND I CERTAINLY RESPECT AND VALIDATE THEIR PLAN. THEY ARE MEETING WITH INTERESTED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AT GRAVENHURST'S MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN, THIS EVENING, APRIL 11TH. I REALLY HOPE THEY DO HAVE A GOOD TURN-OUT, AND THEY FIND THE SUCCESS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN OUR TOWN, AND FROM MUSKOKA GENERALLY.

I have simply taken on too many writing projects this spring, to join anything more than a league of my own. Now in the final stages of the Richard Karon biography, which will begin on Monday, at approx. 8:30 p.m., on this blogsite, I will almost immediately be back working on a proper "Karon" online site, for completion by the end of June. Then I've got an antique business to operate. So as much as I would like to belong to a theatre group, such as this, I'll just stand-back and let the real movers and shakers take this to the main stage. Hopefully at the Opera House. But I have a little advice I'd like very much to share with all sides…..that may come together to advance this interesting project.

I have a very strong opinion, in this regard, that approaching Gravenhurst Town Council with this idea, needs a theatre-supportive liaison committee, that I have suggested several times before. The problem with taking this Theatre Project template to the town, is that it could be deferred to either the Opera House manager, or to the committee level of the respective town department. It will not have the advantage of having an "in-the-know" group, independent of the Theatre Project, that can work more closely with the municipality's committee, and management, responsible for the Opera House, to pave the way, to the eventual close scrutiny by members of council. Here's what I mean.

We have heard many rumors and innuendos over the years, about many significant projects and ideas that have been sunk long before they made it to council's agenda. Interesting new ideas with sound management, and considerable expertise attached, that were unceremoniously and possibly unfairly deemed unworthy of closer examination, without anything more than cursory investigation. This is hearsay, as far as I'm concerned, but I have heard this on numerous occasions none the less. These folks feel obstacles have been unfairly put in their way, by an unenthused committee. There has been a lot of frustration getting past the committee level, to have council give it an honest, thorough examination. Part of this comes from the fact, the committees responsible, were simply not prepared for the projects, the expected timeline, and the extensive nature of the programs proposed. There are two sides to the story, and I've only heard one. So in fairness, we have to look at a new theatre project, as kind of a litmus test……if they indeed are planning, at some point, to seek assistance from local council, or consider use of the Opera House as a suitable venue.

My idea of a liaison committee is simple. A group of three to five theatre-entertainment supportive citizens, none with a conflict of interest, who would volunteer as a liaison group, to help promote use of the Opera House by organizations such as the Muskoka Theatre Project, to name one. It would be the committee's responsibility to meet, and even recruit entertainment companies etc., with the Opera House as a favored venue, and work between the theatre company, for example, and the town council, to broker deals for shows, and longer term productions. It is necessary, in my opinion, to have a group of citizens who are clearly familiar with the council process, and fully knowledgeable about policies, funding requests, rent discounts, legal requirements, and a trillion other council nuances, to properly prepare council for submissions, and to simplify the application processes. A group that has as its mission statement, to promote and increase use of the Opera House, and understands how this can be achieved. Council and the committee / department of this town, sorry for being blunt, needs a vetting group to discern a good idea from one that won't fly, for any number of reasons. While I have no place, or solid footing on this matter, to tell the promoters of the Muskoka Theatre Project, council won't be receptive to their plan, it is one of those proposals that brings up memories of the unfortunate final days of Muskoka Festival. Not the amazing days of the summer theatre, and its positive impact on the local economy. I remember the good days, and the many full houses to see some talented performers making use of that beautiful stage, in a wonderfully historic Opera House building. I remember the contributions of Michael Ayoub and Michael Cole, and they both should be recognized for putting our Opera House on the map, for thousands upon thousands of eager theatre goers. But can we expect council to re-live all those grand days, at the time they have to make a decision to welcome another theatre company to the main stage. Maybe the group won't even approach the town. But if it did! There needs to be a committee to shoulder some of the administrative burden, and help the Theatre Project navigate the often confusing pathway from outside to inside. It's a group that can negotiate with the theatre group, so that when a presentation is made, it has been pared to what council or the committee responsible, needs for a proper application.

This is a good opportunity that could inspire many more interesting developments, for more intense, frequent use of the Opera House. Entertainment in the future should not fall entirely on the discretion and taste of town staff, because it hasn't been working for some time now. No one at town hall, it seems, wants to make this public. As we are stake holders in the presently under-used Opera House, the citizens of this community have every right to demand change. That doesn't mean the Muskoka Theatre Project is a perfect new project, but it's something we should be able to look at more closely, without it being deemed unworthy, off the cuff, by folks who may not have an interest in long bookings with theatre companies. We need an independent and informal citizen's group, with no fiscal attachments to the town or entertainment proposals, that can weigh the benefits and scrutinize the details of specific arrangements, to provide council with a fair review and recommendation of each. There could even be an opportunity for some negotiation, which the committee might also be able to facilitate. The idea is to have this group positioned, in theory, between management of the Opera House and both the respective, governing town department, the committee responsible, and actual Town Council, that will act as the vetting body, to then liaison and facilitate with town officials. This can and should prevent good and workable projects from getting dismissed prematurely, because of personal choices made by paid staff, who may not share the interests of the community at large, when it comes to what we would like to have, as entertainment at the theatre we own. I think getting eager, entertainment-starved volunteers, to serve on this type of committee, would be quite easy for a town truly interested in making improvements to this central venue. I can't imagine the BIA being adverse whatsoever, to increased use of the Opera House. It's in their front yard after all. I remember all the big crowds that used to arrive early for summer theatre, and who very much enjoyed dining out, before and after these events. There's a future to all this, but it needs a helping hand. A volunteer committee is a good way to start those wheels in motion.

A committee can also help create an entertainment plan, and make suggestions about groups and performers who should be approached, to do shows in the future. The committee wouldn't eclipse the work of the manager, or the respective committee in charge, and should not be seen as a threat to day to day Opera House operation, or its chain of command. An appointed citizen committee, is exactly what the Opera House needs in the future, and the town should be willing to listen to advice, from those who know how to change an under-used main street, BIA zone venue, into the showcase it is supposed to be…..and has been for many years in the past.

I'm being presumptuous with the Muskoka Theatre Project. Maybe they feel differently about the Opera House for their plays. But you know, I really feel bad that we have forgotten what Michael Cole and Michael Ayoub did for us, for so many years, without ever getting the credit they deserved. Muskoka Festival had an international acclaim, and I had the great fortune, to have attended many of those shows, as their guest, and never once, even with sharpened pencil and a critic's privilege, did I feel compelled to give them a harsh or negative review. They were doing something good for the town. I loved the opportunity to meet the many talented performers, who landed on that storied stage, and I still remember their amazing gala fundraiser…….for me it was the one with the hilarious skit, featuring local notables, Richard Corcelli, as Felix, and Jack Puntis, as Oscar, from the television show, movie, "The Odd Couple." It was memorable, and what the Opera House deserves on its stage, whether it is local acts and community theatre, or multi-date shows by large scale production companies, knowing the true potential of our historic venue. The place should be used constantly. We're paying dearly to keep it operational. We need to go the extra mile, and get good and crowd pleasing acts on that stage. There are people who can pull this off. Why not see who's interested in starting a new entertainment legacy for the Opera House?

The town has to be prepared to do its part, to make this happen. It's up to them to lead the way on this, as these words are just "non-binding observations," floating in cyberspace.

JUST A LITTLE OBSERVATION ABOUT OUR MAIN STREET, WHO SHOULD BE THERE, TRANSITIONS, LANDLORD PRIVILEGES, AND IS IT SAFE?

THERE ARE CRITICS AMONGST US, WHO LOOK AT URBAN TRANSITIONS, AS NEVER BEING FAST OR PROFOUND ENOUGH, TO SATISFY THEIR INNER YEARNINGS FOR SUCCESS AS THEY SEE IT. IT'S AS IF A MAIN STREET, IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL PERIOD, CAN ALL OF A SUDDEN CHANGE, AND BECOME EVERYTHING TO EVERYONE AT THE SAME TIME. WITH THE SNAP OF FINGERS, ALL THE TRANSFORMATIONS AND REDEVELOPMENTS WILL OCCUR, AND THERE WON'T BE A SINGLE DEFICIENCY IN THE PLAN, OR AN "UNDESIRABLE" WALKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WILL BE PLEASANTVILLE. OR HOW ABOUT OZ? WHERE THE STREETS ARE PAVED WITH GOLD, AND NO ONE EVER GROWS OLD. THERE ARE PLANS IN THE MINDS OF SOME, WHO WOULD TRANSPLANT "UTOPIA," ON TOP OF WHAT CAN ONLY BE SEEN, AT PRESENT, AS AN UNPROFITABLE WASTE OF SPACE. I AM NOT ONE TO STIFLE ANYONE'S RIGHT TO AN OPINION, AND I DON'T EXPECT, WHEN I WRITE THESE BLOGS, TO FORM A CULT OF CURRIE-BELIEVERS, TO TAKE OVER TOWN HALL. I'M NOT A ROLE MODEL FOR MY KIDS OR FOR ANY ONE ELSE. AS WOODY ALLEN ONCE SAID, "I WOULDN'T BELONG TO ANY CLUB THAT WOULD HAVE A GUY LIKE ME FOR A MEMBER." I'M JUST A SNARLY OLD FORMER EDITOR, WHO HAS A FEW INSIGHTS, NOW AND AGAIN, ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS, AND THE BUSINESS AS USUAL STUFF, FROM TOWN HALL, THAT I DON'T LIKE. I LIKE LOTS OF STUFF. I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT WHEN I FIND IT!

NOW FOLKS, I DON'T RUN A PHOTOGRAPH OF MYSELF WITH THIS BLOG FOR ONE GOOD REASON. I LOOK LIKE I SHOULD BE ON A WANTED POSTER. I'M A SORT OF CHARLES MANSON (NOT MARILYN MANSON) LOOK-A-LIKE, ON A GOOD HAIR DAY. SOMEONE MIGHT, ON INITIAL APPEARANCES, THINK I WAS A BIKER, A TERRORIST, A RELIGIOUS SECT LEADER, A SVENGALI OF SOME ACCLAIM, OR JUST SOMEONE YOU DON'T WANT MILLING-ABOUT UPTOWN. THERE ARE SOME CRITICS, AND ASSORTED URBAN SOOTHSAYERS, WHO MIGHT POLITELY ASK ME TO SHOP SOMEWHERE ELSE, AS I MIGHT BE A RISK TO THE APPROPRIATELY GROOMED, AND WELL MANNERED INDIVIDUALS, WELCOME UPTOWN. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU FOLKS, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I TRULY WONDER WHAT PLANET I'M ON, WHEN I READ AND HEAR THE KIND OF INFLAMMATORY STATEMENTS THAT ARE MAKING THE ROUNDS OF OUR TOWN. I JUST READ THE STUFF, HIT MY HANDS TO THE OLD FOREHEAD, AND RESOLVE TO NEVER, EVER ALLOW MYSELF SUCH LIBERTY AND INSENSITIVITY WITH MY OWN BLOG.

BUT HERE'S SOMETHING OVER AND ABOVE WHAT SOME CRITICS MAY ARGUE, ABOUT THE PRESENT SAFETY OF OUR STREETS. WITH OUR BOYS HAVING MANY LATE NIGHTS, WITH LESSONS AT THEIR MAIN STREET SHOP, AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, I AM OFF TO PICK THEM UP WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT ON MANY OCCASIONS. THINKING BACK NOW ON THE LAST TEN TIMES I'VE MADE THE POST MIDNIGHT JOURNEY, TO THESE VENUES, I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY THE ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE. ON ABOUT SIX OF TEN TRIPS, NOT INCLUDING THE TIMES I WAS STOPPED, I HAVE WITNESSED CRUISERS IN AND AROUND THE MAIN STREET. THE FIRST TIME I WAS PULLED OVER, WAS WHEN AN OFFICER, AND RIGHTLY SO, ASSESSED THAT WE WERE DRIVING THE LONG WAY HOME. IT WAS TRUE. I OFTEN DO THIS BECAUSE VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE. WHAT THE OFFICER KNEW, BY CHECKING THE PLATE, WAS THAT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE BEING PURSUED, BELONGED TO A CHAP ON SEGWUN BOULEVARD. I JUST TOOK OUR BOYS THE LONG WAY AROUND, BUT AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT, AND HAVING TO DEAL WITH MANY BREAK AND ENTERS IN THESE SAME NEIGHBORHOODS, THE OFFICER HAD EVERY RIGHT TO STOP AND QUESTION ME. IN FACT, AFTER I'D BEEN CLEARED OF WRONG-DOING, I THANKED THE OFFICER FOR BEING SO THOROUGH AND ATTENTIVE, AS WE HAVE HAD TWO ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS IN THE PAST YEAR. I FELT VERY GOOD ABOUT BEING POLICED IN THIS FASHION.

ON THE SECOND OCCASION, I HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, IN FRONT OF OUR BOYS' STORE, ON THE MAIN STREET. IT WAS WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT, BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANDERING THE STREETS FOR WHATEVER REASON. ANDREW AND ROBERT HAD JUST ENTERED THE STORE, TO RETURN SOME RENTAL EQUIPMENT WE HAD IN THE VAN, AND A CRUISER PULLED UP BESIDE ME, AND ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED WHY I WAS THERE, AND HE BID ME A GOOD NIGHT. SEVERAL YEARS AGO THE STORE HAD BEEN BROKEN-INTO, AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN STOLEN. SO I WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE POLICE PRESENCE, MAKING OR TOWN SAFER OVERALL. THEIR PRESENCE IS A DETERRENT. AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY VISIBLE IN AND AROUND MUSKOKA ROAD, AND OTHER COMMERCIAL NODES, AND THIS SHOULD BE RE-ASSURING NEWS. BY THE WAY, THANKS TO THE OPP, AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE CRIME AT OUR SHOP WAS SOLVED, AND OUR EQUIPMENT RETURNED. DAMAGE COSTS AND THE PRICE OF SEVERAL ITEMS THAT WEREN'T RECOVERED, WERE PAID BACK TO US OVER ABOUT TWO YEARS. WHEN WE HAVE NEEDED THE OPP, THEY HAVE BEEN QUICK TO RESPOND, INCLUDING TO AN ACCIDENT A YEAR OR SO AGO, AT THE END OF OUR STREET. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE WHO FEEL THE POLICE COVERAGE IS LESS THAN ADEQUATE, BUT I CAN TELL YOU FROM MANY LATE NIGHT DRIVES THROUGH THIS TOWN, THE POLICE PRESENCE IS CONSISTENT, AND IN THE PLACES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE FOR BREAK-INS. THEY PROBABLY DON'T GET COMPLIMENTS LIKE THIS VERY OFTEN. FACT IS, I DON'T FEEL INSULTED OR THAT MY CIVIL LIBERTIES HAVE BEEN VIOLATED, WHEN I AM STOPPED. THEY'RE ARE DOING THE JOB WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO DO. AND DOING IT WELL. AT LEAST THAT'S MY OPINION.

NOW AS TO WHETHER A GUY WITH A MUG LIKE MINE, MIGHT BE CONSIDERED OF THE "UNSAFE" CATEGORY OF HUMAN-KIND, BY SOME OVERSEERS OF THIS UTOPIA, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK IT WOULD BE A CLOSE CALL. IT'S THIS BADLY MANGLED NOSE, I GOT FROM A HUNDRED HOCKEY INCIDENTS, THAT GIVES ME MY UNSAVORY APPEARANCE.

THANKS FOR JOINING TODAY'S BLOG. PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN SOON. AND PLEASE STAY WITH THIS BLOG FOR THE UPCOMING RICHARD KARON BIOGRAPHY, AND THE ACCOMPANYING TRIBUTE VIDEO, CREATED IN HIS MEMORY. THE FILM WAS DONE BY SON ROBERT AND THE MUSIC WAS PROVIDED BY GRAVENHURST SINGER, DANI O'CONNOR, WITH ROBERT CURRIE ON THE GUITAR. THIS IS A GOOD MUSKOKA STORY, AND IT WAS WRITTEN AND PRODUCED RIGHT HERE IN GRAVENHURST. IT WILL BE ON THIS BLOGSITE ON MONDAY EVENING AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 P.M., AND WILL CONTINUE FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS.