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march 1.2002 « Jm at s o t . 2 5
songs of the era with compositions created just
for the show hy Campbell. Adding to the mix
ture will be dance numbers of the era choreo
graphed hy Scardina as well as moving video
footage put together hy Robertson.
How the show was pulled together is a story
in itself. Merisel first hatched the idea, and
in meetings with others a more specific out
line came to life. The hardest part, at least in
the beginning, was convincing seniors to let
their stories be told.
“There were a lot o f people who were
referred to us,” Mensel says. “But there were
very few who said OK. Many people felt they
just didn’t want to have their lives become so
public.”
That is not to say anyone is disappointed
Irv Ewen
or years, Irv Ewen has been a
quiet force behind the scenes,
not only for the Portland Gay
Men’s Chorus but also local
opera productions. He is one of
those people you never will see onstage, but
his work has graced the performances of
endless shows in the area.
Ewen lived a mostly closeted life. He
was raised in Portland and spent his profes
sional career working for Multnomah
County.
The longtime planner says he kept his
personal life quiet until he faced his biggest
tragedy in 1980. That was the year his
longtime partner, John Swarmer, was killed
in an accident.
The grief overwhelmed Ewen, and he
found relief by finally breaking the hinds
and coming out. “I think people knew,” he
says, “hut before that 1 wasn’t open."
Ewen is moved to tears as he describes
Vintage Voices, not because he was selected
f ,
to be a part hut because of what it means to
W""> -
the older population. “This is so impor
tant...you need to honor the senior mem
hers of the community," he says.
Of" course, Ewen is thrilled about the recogni
tion he is receiving by having his story told.
Because he is actively involved with the chorus,
he is the only participant who has heard his spe
cial song, and the tears flow again as he talks
about his initial reaction. “It meant so much to
me," he says.
It took Ewen a long time to heal after the death
of Swarmer, but he found love again and has been
with Mario Dean since 19% . He definitely keeps
active in his retirement, and being a backstage
member of Portland performances suits him perfectly. “1 like to be a part of it,” he
F
Irv Ewen
spent most of
his life in the
closet but now
is thrilled to be
recognized by
the Portland
G ay M en’s
Chorus
says simply.
Among the issues and eras
addressed during the perform
a n c e are
are womens
w o m e n ’s suffrage,
suffrape. the
th e
ance
Depression,
World W ar II,
civil rights, the
dance craze and
more. They are
told through the
stings and dances
gleaned
from
those times but
also through the
memories o f the
people
being
honored.
Part of the rea
son for keeping
the show’s tries - Videographer Brian Robertson consults with composer
sage “upbeat and ^ ate Campbell
fun” is because during the eras
and we haven’t even started to tap into it.”
Robertson says he noticed a connection
represented, those feelings were
shared by each of those profiled. “We have
representative of the culture.
focused on only six people and there are millions
“The 70s, ’30s and ’40s
were very vibrant times,” of stories, but one common thread that connects
all of the elders is fear...fear of losing their job,
Stroh says. “The culture at the
fear of family rejection and fear of violence in
time— the dances, the fash
their communities,” he says. “I do
ion, the music— it
the six we have chosen reflect a
was all so exciting.
'The older feel
diversity within our community.”
Even the common
Robertson, who is also a mem
folks’ art forms were
gay people
ber of the chorus and will be per
high-energy. It was a
survived a lot. forming, has the difficult task of
fun time.”
taking the hour-long interviews
Still, to be gay or
They went
and editing them down to a short
lesbian in that era was
through a
clip, something he says has not
not an easy task. Sev
been easy.
eral of those being
great
deal.
Campbell was commissioned by
honored took the “tra
the
chorus to compose the original
ditional”
lifestyle
We need to
music
for Vintage Voices, and her
path— getting mar
remember
task was equally daunting. She says
ried, starting families and dealing with a
she
has been a “closeted song
great amount of shame and fear before
that."
writer" for years and has written a
finally coming out.
— Irv Ewen number of pieces, but nothing
Those messages became clear to
quite as big as this show,
Robertson, who videotaped interviews
To compose the songs, she acquired the
with the honorees. He has worked in the broad
videotaped interviews from Robertson and says
cast journalism field for more than two decades
she simply sat back and watched them as a casu
and has been at KGW-TV for the past 17 years.
al observer. Then she watched them again, only
The cameraman has traveled the world and
this time she took notes. Her creative process
seen a great deal but admits he was touched by
was
under way.
this project. “They are such an incredible
resource to our community,” Robertson says.
Continued on Page 2 6
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