Lakeshore Advance, 2012-05-23, Page 25IS
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Wednesday, June 1, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 21
It's a wrap -from livestock to summer stock
Huron Country
Playhouse
celebrates 40
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
1d .�eshore Advance
It was a spectacular opening night on
July 26, 1972. The tent was up, the stack-
ing chairs wobbly as they were stuck in
the ground. The sun had set as only a
Grand Bend sun can. It was 8:25 p.m.
and the lighting was not quite
connected.
The small theatre group was ready to
perform "Two For the Seesaw':
The Huron Country Playhouse was
about to be born. Wm. Heinsohn, an
expressway agent for the province of
Ontario and his friend James Murphy,
owner of Toronto Gate Threatre Produc-
tions were going to embark on yet
another Grand Bend profitable endeav-
our. Heinsohn bought the property and
Murphy brought his expertise to begin
what is now a very successful theatre. "It
began very primitive", says Heinsohn.
"We brought wheel barrows of dirt to
create the floor and the Richard Iveys
paid for the tent", he explained that eve-
ryone pitched in to help.
"I remember the first car to arrive'; he
said "it was likely worth more than the
entire playhouse property". It began as a
"summer thing". Tickets were about
$2.50 a piece and it ran only in July and
August. Murphy was the director with
actors coming from the Toronto Actors
Equity.
dine
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Serving Grand Bend and surrounding area
Local establishments donated eggs,
turkeys and other foods for the actors.
Gladys Miller of Oakland House and
Irene Kennedy of Duron Vista supplied
rooms for rent to the actors. the techni-
cal staff would stay in the farmhouse
now the Gift Shop.
In 1974 a big fund raiser was
launched. A new permanent building
was in the plans. At a special dinner the
community support was initiated by
Fred and Francis Walker of Oakwood
Inn. They agreed to pay for the steel
roof. This very generous offer prompted
others to do the same. Five, same style
barns were acquired from the surround-
ing area. Each beam and board, were
numbered and catalogued.
The Country setting could only add to
the charm of the playhouse. When it
rained, audience members had to pull
their vehicles out of the mud parking lot.
Neighbouring cats and dogs would be
'on stage' for many productions and
swooping bats could only add to the tent
atmosphere. Sometime nature had a
way of outdoing the actors.
It is well remembered during the pro-
duction of Plaza Suite, actress Aileen
Taylor -Smith, said her dramatic line
"God will strike you dead for that At
that very moment a clap of thunder
roared through the theatre, leaving the
audience in awe! The board members
helped out any way they could, selling
tickets, tending bar, cutting sandwiches
and even doing washroom checks.
Dave Sheppard owned Young Classic
Hair Salon at the time (and for the next
22 years). He would create hair styles
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KUNG FU PANDA PLUS THOR
GATES OPEN AT 8PM / SHOW 9PM
www.statiltedtiveintheatts.com • 519-238-8344
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.,.
50th Wedding
Anniversary
Bill and Eleonor
Mathers
iiiiPEN HOUSE
Saturday June 4th
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Parkhill Leisure Club
176 Broadway Street
Parkhill
Best Wishes Only!
Alex Mustakas at the theatre In 2010 -The way It was.,,
for the actors at no charge. During one
performance a spectacular wig was
needed. One of Dave's clients had just
the hair piece. It was borrowed on a
very strict stipulation it he handled like
gold.
As Sheppard attended the opening
night he noticed the wig was not being
used. When he questioned the direc-
tor she said, "Oh, the wig was cut!" She
must have noticed his alarming
expression when she assured Shepp-
ard this was a theatrical expression
and the wig would not be used!
During the second year funds from
Wintario were granted. Seats from the
Ancaster Theatre were donated and
Kineto Theatre �
Forest
"WATER FOR ELEPHANTS"
Rating: PG (Mature Theme)
Juno 3,4,5&Tth
Starring: Reese Witherspoon
Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz
•A 1'1\
HAPPY 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
Ivan & Rosemary Bedard
June 6, 198 1-2011
Love from your kids.
"You are truly an inspiration to us all!"
Lakeshore Advance
they were on their 1vay. l'he sante year the women's guild
began as the stepping stones to what Heinsohn calls the
"backbone of the playhouse"
t leinsohn is an honouraty hoard member. 'lhe beginnings
of his creation will be long remembered. The support and
community spirit of Grand Bend and area will live on with
the I luron Country Playhouse, ('lltken from Trading Places
1994)
Macklin. history updates since this alas written- regarding
they sue ee55 and l►rt►,t;n ss a/'liana; ('auntr)' Playhouse
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Fri & Sat
6:30 & 9:15
Sun - Thur 7:30
Sat & Sun Mat
1:30
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FN & Sat 6:45 & 9:15
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PG
1-800-265-.;` 38
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011- 8 PM
■— CENTENNIAL NALL - LONDON
Tickets at Tho Centennial Hall Box Office. Charge by Phone
519.672.1967 or online at www.centennialhall.london.ca