March 9, 2000

An island retreat with an ongoing reason to visit in the off-season

By HILDA ANDERSON
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER

Visiting some popular vacation destinations off-season can be disappointing. Often there's not much to do. Shops have short hours; some restaurants are closed; attractions are shut for the season. But that's not the case with Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.

On a retreat there last weekend, we discovered a wonderful reason to visit the island now or anytime -- the community theater, where we attended a fine production of "Death of a Salesman."

The San Juan Community Theatre comes as a surprise. It far exceeds what you would expect to find on an island with just 6,000 year-round residents.

In the mid-1980s, when efforts were under way to build a permanent place in which to showcase local talent, legendary actress Helen Hayes performed at the Royal Movie Theatre as part of a fund-raising gala. Afterward, she told the audience, "With talents like these on this island, the least you can do is put a roof over their heads."

And they did!

San Juan Island residents raised more than $500,000 through celebrity golf tournaments, gourmet dinners, local art and fashion shows, big band concerts, movie premieres, musical productions and pledges from individuals, businesses and government. It was, indeed, a community effort.

Island resident Paul Whittier and his wife, Lucy, purchased and donated the site for the theater and matched the $500,000 raised by the community.

Now in its 11th year, the San Juan Community Theatre is giving back to the islanders with year-round entertainment and is a source of great pride.

The main theater is named for the Whittiers, and a painting of them hangs on one wall. Seating capacity is for 285 people on the main floor and balcony. It's an intimate space due to a curved design that gives patrons a good view wherever they sit.

Slate-blue fabric covers the roomy, comfortable seats and backs, matching the carpeting that leads down the aisles to the large stage. It's a professional setting that compliments the performances.

The theater is a dedicated performing facility. It is, as one islander puts it, "A stage not shared with the movie house, the Grange Hall or the firehouse on a slow night."

On a backstage tour, we saw the costume room with hundreds of costumes and wigs, the men's and women's dressing rooms (each with traditional "Break a leg" signs for good luck), the prop room and the shop where dozens of volunteers give their time.

Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with a new, award-winning production on Broadway. Over the years the play has been performed in countless theaters all over the world.

At the San Juan Community Theatre, Director Andrew V. McLaglen has put together a powerful production using talented, local actors. Now an island resident, McLaglen worked in Hollywood for many years directing episodes of TV shows such as "Gunsmoke," "Have Gun Will Travel," "Rawhide" and "Perry Mason," in addition to 30 feature films starring actors such as John Wayne, James Stewart, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck.

This is the seventh play McLaglen has directed at the San Juan Community Theatre since 1993. The others were "Shenandoah," "Private Lives," "Uncle Vanya," "Mr. Roberts," "Chapter Two" and "Twelve Angry Men."

McLaglen is a big bear of a man. He resembles his late father, longtime Hollywood actor Victor McLaglen, who won an Oscar for best actor in 1935 for his performance in "The Informer."

"Death of a Salesman," which opened last weekend, will be performed on March 10, 11, 12, 16, 17 and 18. "Guys and Dolls" opens on April 28, followed by performances on April 29 and 30, May 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $8 for students.

Upcoming performances also include the first of the Chamber Music San Juan series on March 25 featuring the works of Brahms, Mendelssohn, Webern and Poulenc; BattleField Band on April 12; the San Juan Singers May 20 and 21; and "The Thousandth Night," a one-man show by Ron Campbell on May 26 and 27.

For tickets and information on the San Juan Community Theatre, call 360-378-3210. For information, and toe-tapping music, access their Web site at http://www.sanjuanarts.org/

Theater packages combining accommodations with tickets for "Death of a Salesman" and "Guys and Dolls" are available at several lodgings. We stayed at the Inns at Friday Harbor Suites. Our one-bedroom suite featured large rooms, two queen-size beds, two TV sets, kitchen with refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker, hair dryers and two telephones.

Packages including lodging and tickets for "Death of a Salesman" are $61 per couple plus tax. For "Guys and Dolls," the package price is $81 plus tax.

For reservations, call the Inns at Friday Harbor Suites at 800-752-5752. Visit their Web site at www.theinns.com

Other lodgings offering packages include Friday Harbor House (accommodation, tickets, dinner before the show and scones in the morning) for $199 per couple Friday night, $247 Saturday night; phone 360-378-8455, e-mail to fhhouse@rockisland.com; and Roche Harbor Resort (lodging and tickets) for $125 per couple plus tax; phone 800-451-8910 or check the Web site: www.rocheharbor.com/

Several bed-and-breakfast inns also offer packages. For information, call 360-378-3030 or see the Web site at www.san-juan-island.net

To reach Friday Harbor, take Interstate 5 north to Exit 226 in Mount Vernon, then state Routes 536 and 20 west to Anacortes, where you board the Washington State Ferry.

You don't need to take a car to Friday Harbor. This time of year, you can park free at the ferry terminal in Anacortes and walk onto the ferry. Round-trip passenger fare to Friday Harbor is $5.30 as compared to $17.75 for vehicle and driver. And, as a foot passenger, you don't have to worry about getting to the ferry dock way in advance to make sure you get on.

Friday Harbor is small enough that you can easily get around on foot. The Inns at Friday Harbor Suites has a van that meets incoming ferries and delivers guests back to the dock when they depart.

For information on Washington State Ferries, call 800-808-7977 or access their Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/

Seattle-based Kenmore Air offers floatplane service between Lake Union and Lake Washington and Friday Harbor. For information and reservations, call 800-543-9595; on the Web at www.kenmoreair.com/

Harbor Air flies to Friday Harbor from Sea-Tac Airport. For information and reservations, call 800-359-3220; on the Web at www.harborair.com