OSF Backstage Tour

One of the experiences I most enjoy at Oregon Shakespeare Festival is their “Backstage Tour.” It’s an opportunity to see behind the scenes at all three theaters and to learn what goes on, first-hand, from one of the company. Over the years we’ve probably gone on a dozen such tours led by OSF actors, stage managers, front-office executives, costumers, etc. But never by stage hands.

The tours take place several times a week at ten in the morning and the stage hands are all at work taking down and setting up for the next show. OSF is a repertory theater, after all, and it is rare that the same show is up two performances in a row. So, while we get to see them in action and learn about the way things come apart or fly in or are stored two stories below the stage, we seldom have opportunities to talk to the men and women actually doing the work. I feel a little bit like that right now with regard to concern for Pacific County Ordinance #162, Section 20.

Pacific County Courthouse

In case you didn’t catch the first act of this real-life-in-the-flesh drama, let me just say that the Pacific County Board of County Commissioners has announced their intent to look at removing the ordinance that provides the only legal protection for the historic character of Oysterville. If it is removed from the books, the architectural guidelines which protect our historic character would be no more. Aluminum siding, metal roofs, manufactured homes could all become the norm for Oysterville and we would soon blend in with every other unincorporated town around.

As word of this potential tragedy has spread, we understand that people have been writing letters to our County Commissioners. Bless you if you are among them! For the most part, we have no idea about who is writing or what they are saying ‘behind the scenes’… but every once in a while someone sends us a copy and then we get a gratifying peek at what’s going on backstage—or at least at the mailboxes of Pacific County Courthouse.

Mail Call!

Said one letter: Oysterville is an important heritage tourism site for Pacific County and is well worth the time, energy and resources that it takes to keep it so…These travelers spend 63 percent more on average than other leisure travelers.

And from another letter: This proposal to rescind the ordinance is a very bad idea. As a business owner… I can tell you that one of the big “draws” to this area is the remarkable historical character of this County. Our patrons are quite aware of this fact, and we receive a lot of positive feedback, particularly from those we direct to Oysterville as one of the “must see” attractions.

And from another: My family has been on the Peninsula for only 45 years, but our voice represents a large portion of the county’s constituents – retirees and vacation home owners.  A stay at the beach house isn’t complete without a tour of Oysterville. We share the Jewell of the Peninsula with friends. And they return to the Peninsula with their friends, drawn back to the quaint quiet charm of Oysterville.

If you’ve already written, thank you! Thank you! Thank you! If not, please do! Our Commissioners are Frank Wolfe (fwolfe@co.pacific.wa.us), Steve Rogers (srogers@co.pacific.wa.us), and Lisa Ayers (layers@co.pacific.wa.us). The snail mail address is P.O. Box 187 South Bend, WA, 98586. Bottom line: Save Section 20 of Ordinance 162. Keep Oysterville protected!