Playhouse to honor the Ford in its past

Tom Titus

“His counterpart in a gray uniform is Clay Wingate, played expertly

by Harry Ford, who also takes the roles of Ellyat’s Yankee comrade

and a mate aboard a slave ship.”

That’s an excerpt from one of my first theater reviews, dated

March 5, 1965, regarding the Laguna Playhouse’s production of the

epic drama “John Brown’s Body.” The “His” refers to the show’s star

and director, Douglas Rowe, while the “counterpart” is a fellow who

went on to become the biggest -- or at least the most bankable --

movie star on the planet.

Never heard of Harry Ford? Perhaps if you consider that he took

his full first name, Harrison, when he hit the big time, this actor’s

name might ring a bell.

Yes, before he created such screen legends as Han Solo, Indiana

Jones and Jack Ryan, Harrison Ford stopped by the playhouse for a

little on-the-job training. He only performed in the one show, but

he’s easily the biggest name in the playhouse’s acting archives

(nosing out Mike Farrell of “M*A*S*H” and “Providence,” although

Farrell spent considerably more time on the Laguna stage).

It’s taken nearly 40 years, but the Laguna Playhouse is getting

ready to honor its most famous alumnus at a gala event scheduled for

April 17 at the Montage Resort and Spa. Ford will share the honorees’

dais with Suzanne and James Mellor, trustees of the playhouse since

1998, for their “extraordinary contributions” to the theater.

In the program for “John Brown’s Body,” the biographical sketch

for “Harry” Ford noted his collegiate theater experience in such

plays as “The Threepenny Opera,” “The Fantasticks” and “The Skin of

Our Teeth.” It also said, “Harry’s goal is to be a professional

actor.”

Well, I’d say he achieved his goal. Besides the aforementioned

flicks (all box office bonanzas), Ford excelled in such movies as

“The Fugitive,” “Witness,” “Air Force One” and “What Lies Beneath” (a

rare villainous turn).

He received the People’s Choice Award as America’s favorite

all-time movie star in 1999, and in 2000 the American Film Institute

presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.

Another lifetime achievement honor, this one from the Golden

Globes, followed in 2002, and just last year, Harrison Ford got his

star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

His fellow honorees, the Mellors, are residents of Laguna Beach.

James Mellor is chairman of USEC, based in Washington, D.C., and he

previously was chairman and chief executive of General Dynamics.

Suzanne Mellor is an accomplished artist whose paintings have graced

the stage in several playhouse productions, including a Picasso

replica for the theater’s 1999 production of “Picasso at the Lapin

Agile.”

If you’re looking forward to spending an evening with a screen

legend, you’d better start saving your pennies. Tickets to the

playhouse benefit event, if available, will start at $500 a pop. You

can underwrite an entire table for a mere $5,000.

The number to call for underwriting information or to receive an

invitation is (949) 497-2787, ext. 217.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.