The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 26, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 July 1977 — Page 11
"Charlie's Aunt" opens tonight
starting Wednesday. July », the Enchanted Hills Playhouse will present •‘Charlie s Aunt.'* a world-famous farce which "has moved millions to tears of laughter." The comical antics begin when Jack and Charles invite the ladies of their affections to lunch to meet Charlie’s wealthy aunt from Brazil. Charlie's aunt's visit is postponed, so Jack and Charles talk a fellow Oxford undergraduate into posing as the aunt, complete with black satin skirt, stole, gloves, wig and hat. The two young girls hug and kiss Charlie's dear, old, but quite frumpy aunt; while Jack and Charlie's fathers try to entice her out of spinsterhood and out of her many millions. Further confusion erupts when Charlie's real aunt arrives from Brazil. "Charlie's Aunt” is being directed by Suzanne Stark, a second season veteran at the playhouse. She recently portrayed Ruby in "Damto at Sea." Suzanne received her BFA from Central Michigan University and recently completed a year of graduate study with the Hilberry at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. The Oxford student who disguises himself as "Charlie's Aunt” is Jerry Zehr. He was also recently seen in “Dames At Sea," as the Captain. "Charlie’s Aunt" will be presented July 20-23 (Wednesday through Saturday) and July 27-30 (Wednesday through Saturday). Curtain times are at 8 pm Wednesdav. Thursday and
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l\' V.’ ! \ S'*’’’®?®.''? I fl "CHARLIE S AUNT' — Charlle B AaM" opens tonight at tae Enchanted HLUs Playhouse and will run July 28*23 and July 27-30. Jerry Zehr, above, reluctantly disguises himself as "Charlie’s Aunt" and receives some unexpected attention from Sir Spettigue played by David Bucher. Friday, and at 8:30 p m on made by either writing or calling Saturdays Reservations can be the playhouse.
Lakeland Living
No strangers in Milford
By COLLEEN STAMM Milford, County Cork, is the kind of village where there are no strangers, where people enthusiastically work at tasks Americans read about in history books, projects which are so much a part of their lives that they are amazed by a visitor's curiosity. A traveller could easily miss Milford, although most of its 200 people live on the main two-lane road through town. The old mill on the River Deel, around which the community started, is now part of a collection station for the Golden Vale Creamery Cooperative. The most imposing structure, Kilbolane Castle, is no more than a few ruined towers connected by part of a curtain wall. There is an occasional thatched roof, bitt this traditional symbol of Ireland is hard to find because of a nation-wide shortage of thatchers. There aren’t even any local politicians; the town finds it simpler to pay taxes to the county for heeded services, and the community council is composed of the officers of the many clubs The People So what is there to write about in Milford? First, there are people like Mary O’Connell. She’s 86 years old and doesn't get around too well any more, but she recently made a spectacular “technicolor dream coat" to be worn in the annual show of the Milford Musical Society. The floor-length coat is a mosaic of hand-sewn glowing color. Most of the proceeds of the show were donated to the Charleville and District Mentally Handicapped Association. her neighbors is Maumee Moriarity. A blacksmith in Milford for 46 years, he is one of the few remaining blacksmiths in the country (and probably in the world) to work entirely by hand power. Without even an electric light in the small shop, he slowly cranks the bellows with one hand wh'le holding the work piece over the fire with the other, just as his ancestors did for centuries. Work is slow these ‘days. Horses are being replaced by cars and tractors and many farm implements are too large to be brought in for the blacksmith to repair. But Maurice doesn't seem to care; after 46 years at the forge, he’s ready to slow down a bit. Cooperation is a cornerstone of life in Milford. This year the village was overall winner for North Cork in the annual Tidy Towns Competition, a national contest sponsored by the Bord Failte (Irish Tourist Board). The score was 38th out of 722 towns of all sizes throughout Ireland. While no one expected to attract tourists, the goal of a good appearance has been taken to heart. There is a committee to remove or repair public eyesores, and individual citizens tend to do a good job on their own property. Children, under the leadership of their teachers, are waging an effective war <m litter. The highlight of the past year for the Milford Community Council, according to their newsletter, was the provision of a maple floor for the community hall. They took up the old floor and sold it at public auction. Wood was bought with donations and installed by a volunteer labor force. A gala performance of “Jesus Christ Superstar" by the Musical Society inaugurated the
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- .“qpa - , j. - — • - —- J fIIMJ ' BUILT IN 1903 — The Church of the Assumption, built in 1903, is a focal point in the religious and social life of all residents of Milford.
new floor. Three tennis courts, two grass and one hard, attract players from the surrounding villages. The well-equipped club bouse, recently renovated, was built by volunteer labor. Hurling and football are popular during the summer, with school-age teams coached by the school principal, John Jones. The 12- and 14-year-old teams won the county finals last year, and so far this year have reached the North Cork finals, with high hopes for another triumph. Winter games are badminton and billiards, played in Jhe parish hall. Everyone gets involved in the twoweek August festival, with its election of the Earl of Kilbolane. Candidates campaign by gathering donations for the Charleville and District Mentally Handicapped Association; their supporters help, with all profits registered in the candidate’s name. The Earl is awarded his title for a year, a cloak, and a small cash prize. Contests abound during the festival: The Bachelor of the Year is crowned, and a girl is selected to represent Cork in the Miss Ireland contest. There is a Bonnie Baby Show, a Monster Dress Parade, and a Mongrel Dog Show. Athletic interests are satisfied by a Beer Barrel Race and the Juvenile Hurling Blitz for the Roscommon Gaels trophy. For the musicallyinclined, there is a concert, a band, and pub singing. According to an old farmer, when a Cork man goes to Dublin, he throws a shilling into the Liffey. If it sinks, he stays; if it floats, he goes back home. Still, emigration is less of a problem here than in most other parts of Ireland. Young people wanting to stay can find work in the Golden Vale Creamery Co-operative, which bought out the Milford Creamery Co-operative about five years ago. Now the milk supplied by local farmers is taken seven miles from Milford to Charleville by tank truck for processing. A local building contractor employs about 30 men. Many Milford residents work at a porcelain factory in neighboring Drumcollogher which produces exquisite figurines for export; local people can’t afford to buy them. The Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Dr. Garrett Fitzgerald, presented Jimmy Carter with one of the products during his trip to America last year. With work available and youthoriented programs more abundant than in most parts of the country, many young families decide to stay and others are returning from England. Housing is their main obstacle. The old buildings clustered along the road simply won’t stretch far enough. In a process that will be familiar to bureaucrats everywhere, the Community Council is making a survey of the situation. One Church The Catholic Church of the Assumption is the only church in Milford, with the entire population attending. Saint Mary’s National School, built in 1958, has already been expanded because of growing attendance. Its six teachers guide the educational process for children from 4 1 * to 13 years of age. Older students go by bus to secondary or vocational schools in Drumcollogher or Charleville; most stay in school until they are 17, with many going on to the universities at Cork and Galway. Kilbolane Castle, on a hill about a half mile south-east of the village, was built by the AngloNormans in the 12th century. It is square, with a circular tower at each end; only two of the towers and one wall are well preserved. Through the years it has belonged to a succession of owners, but apparently never played a crucial part in Irish
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Wed., July 20,1977 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL
history. The local creamery cooperative bought it in 1943. It is now considered a national monument and in the future might be at least partly reconstructed by the national Board of Works. About 600 yards to the south are the ruins of Kilbolane Church, which is said to be connected to the castle by an underground passage. The castle doesn’t exert much influence on the people these days. Most villagers consulted know nothing about it except that it is there. American visitors
Hills Playhouse x. Proudly Presents k The Children \HanseFAnd Gretel \ July . \ 10:00 A.M. & 2:OOKM- \ No Advance \ Reservations \f Bi O A \ J Call 219-856-2328 Or Write: Enchanted Hills Playhouse ; Box 41 Syracuse. Ind. 46567
asking questions were directed to a teacher, Kitty O’Connell, who dug into her resources for a history of its owners. They must have ruled the area once, but Milford today has nothing to do with them. It’s a quiet place where simple people live, greeting every stranger as a friend until proved otherwise, quick to share their warm turf fire, a cup to tea, and homemade bread. Lakeland Locals Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Mock and Mr. and Mrs. Harley Mock and family of Kissimmee, Fla., are visiting relatives and friends at North Webster and Syracuse. Don Mock will remain on the Priest farm with Gerald and Eva Priest for the summer months. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Graff and family of Panamah are visiting with relatives in northern Indiana. They are residing in the Milford area and will be returning to Central American in August: Mr. and Mrs. George Zimmer of South Bend visited with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Weisser, Mr. and Mrs. John Hoerr, Mr. and Mrs. Al Graff and Mrs. Emma Krautet, all of the Milford area, on Sunday.
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