Lakeshore Advance, 2011-08-10, Page 3Huron County Playhouse beginnings
by James Murphy; an Inspiring read
Lynda liNknan-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
t was 40 years ago that James
'� phy decided this area needed
a irenue in or near Grand Bend so
he could bring the stage to life. In
his new book "Huron Country
Playhouse- Memories of Starting
It --came out last week, Murphy
takes you on a journey of his trials
and tribulations of those
beginnings.
Murphy, now retired and his
wife Barbara live in Lethbridge
Alberta. He dedicates the book to
the memory of Benson Tuckey
"who led the Play-
house board
through its most
challenging years;
to Bill Heinsohn
who without his
"encouragement
and help it never
would have been";
and to the Play-
house Guild whose
"untiring efforts
nourished and sus-
tained it."
Murphy's memo-
ries are addictive.
For anyone who has
been a theatre
patron or a history
buff will want to
know what hap-
pened next. Or
maybe reminisce as
to what shows or actors were
favourite. Murphy knew his dream
would become a landmark- what
he may not have known is that his
dream would take its place as a
legitimate theatre.
The idea was the easy part- find-
ing land and finding someone to
pay for the venture was going to
be a challenge. With the help of
many people including Bill Hein-
sohn, the Walkers, Iveys, espe-
dally Barbara, Schlegels, Jim Love,
more contractors than you can
imagine, local and provincial gov-
ernments, the newly formed Play-
' se Guild and especially Ben-
' Tuckey, Two for the Seesaw
made its way to the stage debut in
July 1972.
There had been a lot of opposi-
tion from neighbours in the begin-
ning but even those people
relented and began to bring farm
fresh food supplies for the actors
and crew.
As time went on Hollywood and
New York actors including John
Carradine, Don Porter, Tim Henry,
Gloria Gifford all graced the
Iluron Country Playhouse stage.
Murphy left at the end of the
James Murphy today. The Playhouse In the
beginning years. Benson Rickey (left), who
died In 1988 was an Integral part of what we
have today.
1979 season and was succeeded
by Aileen Thyior Smith. Upon leav-
ing the Playhouse, he took a job at
West Virginia University as Assist-
ant to the Dean of the College of
Creative Arts.
Murphy visited the Playhouse
during its 25th Anniversary sea-
son, but has not seen photos of
later developments.
"In 2000 when 1 retired from
active work in the theatre and
returned to Canada, I noted wist-
fully that 40 years had passed
since 1 first became a member of
Actors Equity. Thinking enough
was enough; I took up Interests
that a busy career had made pro-
hibitive. Although much of my
work was in the US during those
years (General Manager for
Columbia 'Theatre for the Per-
forming Arts in Longview, Wash-
ington where I also developed a
Resident Acting Company), I
found in working with the unions
a greater flexibility than 1 had
experienced in the earlier
years. On the other hand, and
there's always one, l think it would
be more difficult today to do what
I did in the Vs" he told the lake -
shore Advance.
Murphy said starting the Play-
house in Grand Bend was a truly
tuitque adventure, something that
would play out very differently
today.
"Because I was able to became
such an integral part of the com-
munity, the Playhouse became an
integral part of the lives of the peo-
ple there. In writing the book, It
was fun looking back to celebrate
that precious moment in time, but
1 am a forward looking person and
revel quietly in the power of the
Playhouse not just to survive but
to thrive"
The chronicle of Murphy's
beginnings takes us to a time
when buying barns, dealing with
party lines and sulfur water were
all issues that needed to be dealt
with. Gifts of eggs and baking and
even life long pets were of the
norm. In his forwards John
Dunsworth says this is a story of a
dream made real. He says what
was learned from James Murphy
was, " Uwe had a barn -we could
put on a play..." And that he did.
The book is available at the
I turon Country Playhouse before
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 3
TOP Barn and Drive -shed (pre -Playhouse days), 1972
BOTTOM The "Great Barn" restored with enlarged Tent Theatre, 1973
12 HOURS
OF
MIDNIGNT
MADNESS
50%0FF Merchandise
Friday, August 12th, 10 am to 10 pm
and it continues until...
all the Summer Fashions are gone!
merry rags
fashion boutique
Open 7 days a week
1/4 kms, S. of GRANT) BEND Hwy.21
519-238-2818