STuastee core ’ i “ts snub ORTH SHORE theatre-goers must support the focal performing arts before theatre groups start asking themselves the famed question: to be or ‘not to be? , Local theatre and music lovers flock to drama events in Vancouver — the apparent artistic centre of the Lower Mainland — but neglect the high-quality events on their own doorsteps. Performers at North Vancouver’s Presentation House recently found out the hard way that theatre- goers either don’t know about or don’t care about’ supporting Jocal productions — on a recent opening night of a play there was not one person in the au- dience. ) Municipal governments, too, are responsible for the dismal support shown to ijocal arts groups due to their own lack of enthusiasm. West Vancouver has had no proper theatre space of its own, and North Vancouver District is moving slowly in replacing the Deep Cove Theatre that was torn down this year to make way for a housing development. In years past, local productions went through the natural growing pains that accompany fledgling theatre groups, and the public understandably did not support them. But the local arts are breaking new ground with the formation of theatre companies, the bringing in of accomplisiied actors and the presenting of classics, new works and quality Vancouver and Canadian produc- tions; local theatre is now blossoming into its own. While local playwrights, directors and performers _ continue to put their heart and soul into their craft, local residents should partake in what could turn. out to be an enjoyable entertainment experience. HE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER oe SUNDAY WEDNESDAY . FRIDAY 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 58,489 (average, Wednesday Friday & Sunday) oe mL computers? Yom or Bill? AS A SANTA role mode! Tom Holmes, boss of North Van’s cor- porate neighbor ICBC, wins no prizes this year — his Christmas ‘sift’? being that 22% auto in- surance hike. But WHY is it across-the-board? ICBC says it’s because we're lousy drivers whose accidents are pushing up ciaims. And it’s true these days that I never drive without witnessing at least one ac- cident per kilometre looking for a place to happen — carefree red-: light-runners, acrobatic lane- weavers and. holier-than-thou speeders. Keep bang on the posted 80 or 90 km/h along the Upper Levels and every second car will flash: by, scorning you as a slowpoke. ’ After sinning once too often, they DESERVE to pay (though hopefully only with money). But why should those other tens of thousands of B.C. drivers with Simon pure records and not a single at-fault claim in their lives also pay? Why not throw the book only at the baddies — with 44%, 88%, 176% or 352% hikes — and leave the good guys’ premiums alone? Surely your computers can han- dle that obviously fair solution, Tom! Or is it Bill Vander Zalm who’s programming them today — so that you’ll be able to announce an ‘‘across-the-board’? EASING of rates just before the next elec- tion? / “LITTLE GOLD FISH’? — a dance by Mimi Ho’s Strathcona Dance Company — _ had _ its premiere, at the invitation of Mila Mulroney, during the recent Commonwealth Conference before heads-of-state wives who raved about it..On Saturday, Dec.5, the 45-member company brings it to the Centennial Theatre as a highlight of North Van Folkfest’s third annual ‘“‘Santa’s Christmas Concert’’, | Produced by Stella Jo Dean and sponsored by the North Van Lions Club, this family show, with Val Johnson as Santa, features lots of local talent as well. North Van Lawn Bowling Club will present a pantomime skit described as hilar- fous. James Doyle will do his “‘Night Before Christmas’’ number. There'll be carols with The Music Makers. Also ‘on stage will be the Scottish Dancers, the Spanish Dancers and the Seymour Dance Group. And, as the ad- writers say, much more. Photo submitted “LITTLE GOLD FISH” .,.find out tis Saturday why Mila and her Commonwealth counterparts saved about them. Display Advertising 980-0511 Classitied Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 Subscriptions 986-1337 North Shore News, founded in 1509: ape Los the E ita ans aisteputedt to & North and Wes: Vancouver, 325 per year Hor Sor tales avitladle On request Submissions Publisher Managing Editor Associate Editor Peter Speck Barrett Fisher Noel Wright Linda Stewart feet Schedule My 135 Maa Res “pai nan ‘uneven has Subsarpnons re eetcome but vit! Canna accep) responsibly for unsoleted matenal nciuding manuscnpts and Dctuires wich Should be accompanied nya slamped, auger need epvel lope SDA DIVISION Entire contents © 1987 North Shore Free Press Lid. All rights reserved. N oel Wright The further good news is that admission is free. The bad news is that there’s only a single perfor- mance — at 2 p.m. Saturday — so arrive ahead of time. Last year saw a packed house. The year before they turned away 200 people. *-ee WRAP-UP: Recipients. of a B.C. Police Commission award last week at a Government House cer- emony in: Victoria hosted by Lt.Gov. Bob Rogers was former West Van mayor Derrick Hum- phreys. The occasion was the Commission’s ‘‘Honors Night’’ which recognized especially meritorious service in the area of police policy administration — in Humphreys” case, his eight years as chairman of the West Van Police Board Sheila Dewar, who has to be Canada’s least typi- cal-looking dollmaker, holds a Christmas sale of her latest cre- ations this Sunday (Dec.6) from 4 to 8 p.m. at ‘“‘The Red Rowster’’, 229 West Queens Road, North Van. To her exquisitely crafted dolls -— faceless (that being Sheila’s trademark) and equally at home in daughtc:’s; room or an elegant boudoir — she’s now add- ed a new line cf .iovable rabbits and mice ... And while we’re on the same beat, the silent auction at Saturday’s (Dec.5) Christmas Bazaar, Il to 2 in St. Stephen’s Church hall, 22nd and Gordon in West Van, promises some rare goodies for collectors — among them, a Japanese cloisonne vase which has been professionally ap- praised for a reserve price of $250. But don’t worry if that’s a little beyond your bracket — there'll also be plenty of other attractive collectibles reserve-priced from $10 apiece upward, , ® wednesday world ® WRIGHT OR WRONG: Telling a lie is as easy as eating a peanut. The problem in each case; is that one leads to another. DERRICK HUM. PHREYS...honored by police bosses. SHEILA DEWAR...dollmaker with a difference.