A Local Legend

Working with a legend is a privilege. And this distinction has been mine over the past few weeks, ever since local legend Harold O’Leary cast me in a play he is directing. Hal called me just before Thanksgiving last year and asked me if I would consider playing the male lead in the national playwriting contest award winner to be produced at Towngate Theatre in January.

Anyone who has ever worked in local theatre would feel honored to get such a call, and few could resist the invitation. I asked to see the script, but it was almost certain that I would accept. I have turned down offered parts plenty of times – even from Hal – but this time it was different. For one thing, I knew my co-star was to be Arlene Merryman. I’ve worked with her for over a dozen years in Mystery Theatre, so I had no doubt about her talent and our chemistry. More importantly, rumors have been flying that this may be the last production Hal will direct at Towngate – and that is really saying something.

You see, Hal O’Leary practically invented Towngate Theatre. Today, he is 83 years old and his body is gradually failing him; he can hear only with the assistance of hearing aids and he walks with some difficulty. But his mind and his spirit are as bright and vibrant as ever. And his directorial chops are crisp and clean, undoubtedly benefiting from his years of experience.

He retired from Oglebay Institute, the parent nonprofit of Towngate Theatre, in June of last year. He had been the theatre’s only artistic director in its 43-year history. During that time Hal directed almost every play staged during the regular season. As recently as a few years ago, the theatre was producing at least six full productions between September and May, along with countless other events, including play and poetry readings, music performances and summer theatre program with children and adolescents taking the stage. Hal not only directed these plays, but he served as scenic, sound and lighting designer – and very often acted in productions.

A brilliant comic himself, Hal is able to find nearly every reasonable opportunity to add humor and nuance to his productions, and he skillfully guides his actors through the mechanics of manifesting his vision. His characteristic booming stage voice is often imitated lovingly by those with whom he works. Hal’s wit and humor are equally well-appreciated. His temperament, at least among the volunteers who fuel his work, is gentle and deeply respectful. Small wonder people love to work with Hal.

Many people met Hal for the first time the way I did – at school. Since the mid-1960s and until relatively recently, Hal visited grade school children regularly and helped expose them to theatre. Through some very child-friendly exercises, he would encourage students to act – by setting up a scenario, encouraging them to be something different, and then to express it. He lit the fires of imagination among countless children over the years, some of whom went on to perform in the theatre. Some names you may know: musicians Mollie O'Brien and Tim O'Brien and Academy Award-winning actress Frances McDormand. While most of the children certainly did not grow up to be professional entertainers, all of them benefited from this early exposure to performing arts and the challenge Hal brought in stimulating the imagination and encouraging expression.

Hal has had some moments in spotlights beyond Wheeling, though. He appeared on programs for CBS and ABC radio, made recordings of anthologies of children's literature and was in several motion pictures, including Tim Robbin’s brilliant 1992 political comedy “Bob Roberts” in which Hal played a U.S. Senator. An outspoken political commentator himself, he created a lot of local commotion just after the start of the invasion of Iraq when he told a radio interviewer that “(President) George W. Bush is a war criminal.”

Always mindful of the local theatre patrons’ tastes, along with the limitations of a small theatre with virtually no wing space, very little fly space and no orchestra pit, Hal designed seasons of productions that included a mixture of crowd-pleasers and more challenging material. While I, for one, would have liked to see some edgier choices such as works by Mamet or Pinter, Hal did break up the schedule of Neil Simon and other American and British standards with works that stretched both audiences and performers. Owing to his ethnic heritage, perhaps, he seemed favor Irish playwrights, but most seasons Towngate also offered at least one play highlighting the African-American community. (This was no easy task; the local population is about 2% African-American.) In 1977, Hal’s love of original plays stimulated his invention of Towngate's National Playwriting Contest – the latest winner of which is the current production.

Hal O’Leary was inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame in December of last year. Since he is officially retired, he is directing “Matches” without compensation and as an ex-officio or emeritus or whatever you might like to call him. I’d like to call him a local treasure – and call him out of retirement again, and soon. Towngate Theatre still has many talented people – but there will never be another Hal O’Leary.

As for his reported retirement, Hal scoffs at the notion. He says he will keep directing until his own death makes it too difficult to get to the theatre.

“Matches” was written by Richard Manley and is stage managed by another actor/playwright, Tom Stobart. The cast includes John Reilly, Ryan Sears, Shelby Garrett and Annie Kopay, along with Arlene Merryman and me. It is a very funny, witty and poignant show. The play will run at Towngate Theatre, 2118 Market Street, Wheeling, West Virginia, at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, January 16 and 17. It will also be presented at 2 pm on Sunday, January 18. It continues Thursday through Saturday, January 22-24 at 8 pm. For reservations, call 304-242-7700 during business hours or 304-233-4257 during the hour before curtain. And if you see Hal, tell him thanks for the years of entertainment he has brought to the community. But say it loud – his hearing aid may be turned down.