Friday, February 18, 2011
A tribute to James McLure
Posted by Erika Fredrickson on Fri, Feb 18, 2011 at 9:45 AM
The Missoula Colony won't be the same. Playwright James McLure, who has contributed to the summer gathering for writers over the past decade and a half, passed away yesterday morning. Greg Johnson, Montana Repertory Theatre's artistic director sent us this eulogy:
...The world lost one of its finest writers. James McLure a playwright, poet and friend who twenty years ago adopted Montana as his artistic home succumbed to cancer. For fifteen years Jim contributed to The Missoula Colony: The Montana Repertory Theatre’s “gathering of artists in support of the writers craft”. Each year Jim provided a play for us to read, each year a unique, often funny, always well crafted and always heartfelt play would arrive in the Rep office for our consideration and for a decade and a half we took him up on it. He is the only playwright to have contributed to the Colony in every year of its existence. This is in and of itself a remarkable achievement. But when you consider the depth, variety and breadth of his work it approaches miraculous. This is what the Colony is all about, providing a space for creativity to flourish and Jim was our poster man. From plays about movie stars, to cops and criminals, to a brilliant adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, Jim’s insight, talent, love of language and sheer humanity inspired not only us who loved him but a whole new generation of writers who came to appreciate his gentle tutelage and beguiling insight to their work. No one who met Jim came away from a conversation or interaction with him less than richer for it.He was a true southern gentleman; quick of wit, sharply satirical, highly intelligent with a deep personal loyalty to those he loved. I was one of the lucky ones. He shone his light on me and I am the better man for it. He was a rare friend and we will not see his like again and we will miss him terribly and live on in the remembrance of his loving brilliance.
Greg Johnson
Artistic Director
The Montana Repertory Theatre
Comments (3)
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Jim went to Jesuit High School, the sister school of my high school. We graduated the same year. He used to write for the Jesuit newspaper. Every week I would look forward to reading his column.
Elizabeth Scalf
Shreveport, Louisiana
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Mahalo for your wonderful words Greg. I, too, had the opportunity to work with Jim McClure. He came to Maui to direct his play "The Day they Shot John Lennon," on the 20th anniversary of Lennon's death. He was meticulous and gentle, and we laughed ourselves silly during the process. I felt blessed to have made such a dear friend and we corresponded for years afterward. I hadn't heard from Jim for some time, and was shocked when I hear of his death. All we really have is THIS moment. And I thank our dear friend for reminding us. Aloha pumehana dear Jim. We mortals will miss you.
Many years ago James granted us permission to present "1959 Pink Thunderbird" in Cajun .This of course met changing names , places and then there's the wonderful Cajun accent . He said he loved the freshness the dialect gave the play . James showed a video of the show to his father , who was very ill , it was the first time he saw his father laugh out loud.Later we agreed to send cajun newspapers and magazines to James so he could actually write a Cajun play. We are preparing to open ''Lone Star'' in two weeks dedicated to our friend and brilliant playwright , James McClure . God bless you James for your goodness and generosity. Lorna and Bernadette
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