THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409140170
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
A woman dispatches her mates via arsenic poisoning.
A drama chronicles serial killer Ted Bundy's six-state rampage.
A Chicago cop uses martial arts against mob assassins.
Enough is enough.
The Clubhouse Kids' rally against television violence is coming to Suffolk.
Children from 3 to 12 and their parents are invited to come for a Children's Rally Friday night at Trinity Christian Church.
The idea is to promote Christian values and non-violence in television programming. Excerpts from some Clubhouse Kids television shows will be part of the program.
The Clubhouse Kids, seen the last Saturday of each month at 11:30 a.m. on WAVY-TV is, according to the latest Nielsen ratings, Hampton Roads' most watched non-primetime show for young people.
The kids are local youngsters, representing several Hampton Roads areas, including Suffolk, from whence come Eleanor and Caroline Kirk, 6 and 3, and 9-year-old Emily Stratton.
The children work under the direction of the organization's founder, Yvonne Rice, and her son, David Cummings. Slices of his life when he was a youngster form the basis of many of the televised fun adventures.
Mother and son have been writing about them for more than a decade. The tales wound up on cable TV in Florida - successful enough to garner a Golden Cassette Award for the best educational children's show in that state.
They came to this state in 1991 with the same ideas in mind.
Yvonne, her husband, Jim, and their son live in Chesapeake where mother and son share creation, writing and production chores.
In addition to the television programs, there are classes leading to plays involving all The Clubhouse Kids.
``With most children's groups, kids go to class after class, then audition for parts,'' said Kitty Kirk, Eleanor and Caroline's mom. ``Here, all the kids are in the shows - no competition, everyone's happy.''
Emily agrees. ``The good thing about Mrs. Rice - if there's no part in a show for someone, she'll make up a part.''
It is an unusual concept as is her search for drama students.
Rice prefers the non-professional child, a youngster with no preconceived notions about performing.
It seems to work well. Some of her performers have appeared on 700 Club segments, some on The Family Channel program, ``Big Brother Jake.''
The Clubhouse Kids' own plays are more than just plays. Real situations are acted out, then audience members get in on the act, discussing what they have seen.
Subjects are wide-ranging - adoption, respect for the elderly, race relations, handicapped children, peer pressure and so on.
Friday's topic is television violence, but don't expect an evening of negativism.
On the lighter side there will be excerpts from some of The Clubhouse Kids' many musical productions as well as a demonstration of some of their television specials.
``We want to get to people who believe in the same things we do,'' Cummings said.
What they believe is spelled out in their favorite biblical quote: ``Let the children come unto me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.'' Matthew 19:14. MEMO: Clubhouse Productions meets from 4:30 to 6 p.m. every Monday at
Rivercrest Community Center in Great Bridge in Chesapeake. For
information, call 523-0342.
The Children's Rally against television violence will be at 7 p.m.
Friday at Trinity Christian Church, 128 Franklin St., Suffolk. Admission
is free, although an offering will be taken. For information, call
420-9497. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Caroline Kirk, front, Eleanor Kirk and Emily Stratton are Clubhouse
Kids from Suffolk. The children work under the direction of Yvonne
Rice and her son, David Cummings, of Chesapeake.
by CNB