Times-Advocate, 1978-08-03, Page 91
Frustrated by diminished mother role
Directing playhouse operations a juggling act r
i1
hd
" Take 3.5 acres of land and
' buildings, one bar, a conces
sion stand, a kitchen and
boarding house, a staff of
about 60 and payroll which is
constantly changing, and a
large theatre and production
house with a dozen different
activities going on at one
time. Then put yourself in
charge of the operation and
you will know what it is like
to fill the shoes of Barbara
Murphy, director of
operations for the Huron
Country Playhouse at Grand
Bend.
The 31-year-old native of
Edmonton and former resi
dent of Toronto, also juggles
the responsibilities of being
the wife of artistic director
James Murphy and mother •
to two-year-old Nevin. But
she didn't start as a theatre
enthusiast.
Her first exposure to the
area came when she visited
a friend in Grand Bend and
went to see a play when the
Huron Country Playhouse
still operated from a tent.
“I had absolutely no in
terest and no experience
with theatre,” she says.
But her visit to' Huron
Country Playhouse sparked
her interest and when James
Murphy phoned her in
Toronto to offer her a job
helping with auditions, she
accepted.
“I didn’t know what I
wanted to do. I had really
reached the limit as far as
living in the city, and .this
was the chance to get out.”
She started working, doing
the payroll and overseeing
the operation of the
playhouse.
‘‘When I came, James was
a one man band. He had to
do everything.”
In 1*975 Barbara and
James were married. They
are still the only two
employees at the *Huron
Country Playhouse who
work there all year round.
This means that many of
the staff are new each year
and Barbara must spend
much of her time training
people for their job. Her
position was made lighter
this year with the bar and
concession stand being leas
ed to local operators.
‘‘I think that was Jhe most
frustrating part of the
business, just making sure
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someone was there and all
the supplies were there. I
just loathed ordering
chocolate bars.”
Another frustrating part
of the business for Barbara
is being away from her two-
year-old son, who is taken
care of by a live-in baby
sitter.
“Two is a very sweet age
and I feel I’m missing
things. It bothers me When I
see things in my son that
aren’t me. Someone else is
moulding his character and
that is disturbing.”
Barbara also has to deal
with the pressure of working
closely with her husband the
artistic director at the
playhouse.
“There isn’t really any
problem as our interests are
split. His main concern is
the artistic end, choosing
the plays and the artists. I’m
concerned with making sure
everyone gets their pay
cheque.”
The most challenging part
in the history of the
playhpuse for the Murphy’s
has been the construction of
the large theatre itself.
When James Murphy first
came to the site on which
the playhouse was located
there was only an old barn
and farmhouse.
“James deserves 100 per
cent of the credit for getting
it off the ground and keeping
it off the ground. I would
have come and looked at this
place and said you’ve got to
be kidding and taken the
first bus out. He believed in
what he was doing.”
Construction of the barn
theatre started in 1975 and
many people doubted that it
would be completed in time
for the season opening.
“It went right down to the
wire. Two hours before the
play started we were still
putting in seats. But we
made it and everybody
managed to smile and be
pleasant for the opening
night even though we were
on the verge of exhaustion,”
says Barbara.
The Murphys have built a
house next to the playhouse
property which allows them
both to break from the
playhouse psychologically
when they need a rest.
Before, when the actors and
technical staff moved in for
the summer, they moved out
of the farmhouse and took
up residence in the woodsh
ed.
“It’s much nicer than the
woodshed,” Barbara says
about her home, which isn’t
completely finished inside.
The playhouse has been
surrounded by misconcep
tions since it was first
started and some of the mis
conceptions bother Barbara.
One of them is that J.ames
Murphy owns the playhouse.
Actually he is an employee
of the board of trustees of
the playhouse.
Another misconception is
the amount of work it takes
to get a production on the
stage, x.
round job for us.”
How long Barbara will
stay with the job of director
of operations is not definite.
“Most people think we
start working on a new
season two weeks before it
starts. It is really a year
Barbara Murphy .. . playhouse operations manager
Honor bride-elect
at Dashwood event
By MRS. IRVIN RADER
DASHWOOD
Miss Kathy Lovell, bride
elect of September was guest
of honor at a bridal shower
Sunday July 30 at the Dash
wood Community Centre.
Relatives from the Detroit
area and close friends of the
family were guests. Kathy
received many beautiful
gifts.
Hostesses were Mrs.
Kathy La Budde, Mt.
Clemens, Mich., Mrs. Denise
Pellerito, Sterling Heights,
Mich, and Mrs. Barbara
Mclsaac. Katfiy will be the
bride of Douglas Mclsaac
September 30 in Dresden,
Ontario.
Huron Hospital, Exeter.
Mr. & Mrs. Albert Miller
accompanied Mr. & Mrs,
Edward Restemayer and
Brett of Alliston to Detroit
where they spent a few days
with Mr. & Mrs. Dave Schulz
and family and Mrs. Nora
Koessel.
Sunday visitors with Mr. &
Mrs. Fred Miller and girls
Zion were Mr. & Mrs. Irvin
Rader and Mr. & Mrs. Dave
Rader, Stacey and' Derek.
Mr. & Mrs. Jim Poland
and Lois Mein, Camp
bellford,
visitors
Gaiser.
Mrs.
London,
with Mr. & Mrs. Jack Gaiser
and girls.
were weekend
with Mrs. Cora
Wilbur Stewart,
spent a few days
“i don’t think I want to
stay in this job forever. I
want to spend some time
with my son before he starts
to school. I don’t think either
of us will be here for
years.”
OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FRI. NIGHT TILL 9 235-0212
20
Personals
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Wolfe and
Mark, Dorchester spent a
few days last week with Mr.
& Mrs. Stuart Wolfe.
Zion Lutheran church will
be privileged next Sunday to
have an ensemble from the
London Symphony
Orchestra enchance the
worship service with some
musical anthems. The public
is urged to attend.
Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Wolfe
were Sunday visitors with
Mr. & Mrs. Bill Veitch, Ailsa
Craig.
Jayne Hayter spent last
week with Mr. & Mrs. Joe
Bruce, Windsor, and Mrs.
GraceBeavisand Mr. & Mrs.
Donald Duffy and girls,
Detroit.
Jayne Hayter received
word from St. Joseph school
of music that she had passed
with honors her grade 8
singing and grade 2 theory.
Mrs. Frieda Keller has
returned home from South
By MRS. STAN PRESZCATOR
Miss- Brenda Glanville is
holidaying with her grand
parents Mr, and Mrs. Ed
Regele RR. 4 Walton.
Miss Barbie. Glanville
returned home after
holidaying with her brother
David in Listowel .
Mr. and Mrs. Star!
Preszcator visited Sunday
with Mrs. Mary Thornton in
Seaforth Hospital and were
later supper guests with Mr.
and Mrs. Harold McCallum
and family, R.R. 1 Walton.
Miss Jody Armstrong
celebrated her fourth bir
thday Sunday.
Biddulph
lady dies
By MRS. M.H. ELSTON
BIDDULPH
Mr. and Mrs. Elston
visited the Stephenson
Funeral Home Ailsa Craig
on Sunday afternoon where
the body of Mrs. Allie
McFalls rested.
She was one of the last of
the old neighbors to pass
away in her 81st year. She
was the wife of the late Allie
McFalls (nee Florence
Triebner) Exeter. Mrs.
McFalls and her husband
lived their entire married
life in this community
(second line of Biddulph.)
They were ardent workers
of Old Fraser Presbyterian
church located on the second
Concession until it was
closed and then attended
Centralia United Church.
Mrs. McFalls taught
school in S.S. No. 9 Biddulph
for a number of years. She
was greatly interested in the
education of young people.
She leaves two daughters
Birdine (R.N.) of Dearborn
Michigan and Bonnie (M.A.)
Mrs. Ross Lester, Brigden.
She passed away at the
residence of her daughter
Birdine in Dearborn, on July
27.
The funeral took place
from the St. James
Cemetery Clandeboye July
31. Funeral service was
conducted by the Rev. John
Hoffland, Holy Trinity
Church, Lucan.
Persorials
Mrs. Hilda Bellinger of
Toronto is visiting her sister
with Mr. & Mrs. Melville
Buswell for a week.
Visitors during the week
with M.H. & Mrs. Elston
were Rev. and Mrs.
N.D.Knox of London ac
companied by their daughter
Elizabeth and her husband,
Mr. & Mrs. Allan Laird,
Emily and Sarah.
Philadelphia.
Also visiting were Mr. &
Mrs. Jack Stone and Jeffry
of Atwood accompanied by
the latters’ mother Mrs.
Elva Godbolt, Listowel .
Melissa Hardy spent a few
days with her grandparents
Mr. & Mrs. Allan Elston and
great-grandparents M.H. &
Mrs. Elston. They attended
service in Caven
Presbyterian Church and
later were dinner guests of
Mr. & Mrs. Elliot
McRoberts, Exeter.
Superior Beef Sale
CUT FROM GRADE A-l and A-2 Hinds
Full Slice
ROUND STEAK
£
< S
o o
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Sirloin T-Bone or Wing
Steaks
Rump, Sirloin Tip and Steak
Roasts
Regular formerly Hamburg
Ground Beef
Frozen New Zealand whole or half
Lamb Legs
Burns Pride of Canada
Wieners
Burns Small Link
Sausage
Burns GoldenGarlic
Polish Sausage
Burns
Breakfast Grill
Store Sliced
Cooked Ham
lb.
lb.
lb.
ib.
S2M
99*
$|59
$109Vac's Ib. |
Ib.
Ib.
lb.
Ib.
$|29
$ 139
$| 59
3198
KLEENEX
Grand Bend
Office
238-8484
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Reg. or Mint
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Tablets 50
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Unscented or
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Reg. 25.00 for
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79 Victoria St. W. Exeter
Phone 235-1098
for appointment A&
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Club House Manzanillo
SUPERIOR FOOD MARKET AAH SUPERIOR FOOD MARKET
LARRY
SNIDER
Wonder Bran
Bread
New tire by a manufac
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sidewalls are so thick
they will support the car
for up to 40 miles. It's
now being tested by car
makers.
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Generally,
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Superior Enriched
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3/$1’5
EXETER 235-1640
LONDON 227-4191
Huron County s Largest
Ford Dealer
You can depend on our expert
mechanics. They know what
they're doing.
* *
the most im-
difference
among brands of gas is
the octane rating. It
should be listed on the
pump.
* * *
The oil light on your
dashboard is a warning.
Lit (not just flickering), it
means that you've lost
oil pressure — and
maybe oil, too. Pull safe
ly off the road; don't
drive any further until it
is checked.
* * *
If your car's giving you
a nard ride these days,
havethe shockabsorbers
checked. Safe handling
and control are in
volved, as well as com
fort.
* * *
We'll check your shock
absorbers and
everything else at
Larry Snider
MOTORS LIMITED
Wonder Hot Dog
or Hamburg
Buns
Dozen 59*
16 oz. 51*
SHREDDED WHEAT
BEANS IN
TOMATO SAUCE
Westons Salted
SODAS
1 Ib. box
Catelli Mac & Cheese
DINNER
4/qoo
Neilson
Niblets Fancy ICED TEA
,, >■24 oz. tin I
Steer
This
Way
Palanda Crushed, Sliced, Tid Bit
PINEAPPLE
Crisco
OIL
10% Free 26.4 oz.
Stuart House
Ontario No 1
Sweet Corn
6 Cobs
Ontario No. 1
Field Tomatoes
ib. 35*
Ontario No. 1
Lettuce
29*
Valley Farm
French Fries
2 lb. choice 3/^1°°
Sunspun
Lemonade
12 oz. tins