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So Who The Heck Is Paddy Murphy? |
Although all community theaters have traditions that are faithfully observed by its regulars, Norton Singers has one that’s truly unique—a love for poor, deceased Paddy Murphy. Although no one’s quite sure exactly how he died, what happened after he did is known by every member, and has been observed in song for more than 30 years.
When new members first go out after rehearsal to the Norton Singer’s favorite watering hole, Downtown, two things will stand out, besides the good food and sense of belonging that fills the air. The first is the group’s love of the restaurant’s specialty brew , Downtown Dark. The second: that at some point in the evening, someone will stand up, raise his or her glass, and loudly sing out the first note of "The Night That Paddy Murphy Died." Soon, all the other members will be standing, too, glasses raised, to sing.
To hear the song click the Leprechaun.
The song, which has its origins in a popular folk tune from Newfoundland
written in the 1800s, has been sung, rehearsal after rehearsal, for over
three decades. According to longtime Norton Singers historian Pete Molitor,
the song entered into Norton Singer lore during a production of Finian’s
Rainbow in 1975. The show's lead, Larry Mish, had a scene where he had to
bury a leprechaun’s pot of gold, and director Louise Pettitt asked him to
sing something while he was burying the crock, to add a little extra to the
scene. As a result of his song selection, the group has never been the same.
There’s more to the story. For years after the close of Finian’s Rainbow,
longtime stage hand, Frank Molitor, who loved the song, would ask the stage
crew to sing it whenever they gathered at Downtown. When Frank passed away
in 1978, members of the group decided to pay tribute to him, by creating
black and white "Paddy Murphy Lives" t-shirts, in his memory. It was a
fitting tribute to a loyal crew member who wanted nothing to do with being
on stage, and it's since become an acknowledgment of the many folks who go
above and beyond for the group, in so many different ways, backstage. Every
year, t-shirts are "awarded" and the song is sung, not only in Frank’s
memory, but to acknowledge all of the backstage people who work so hard,
night after night.
For loyal Norton Singers members, Paddy Murphy is truly one of those things that keep them returning, year after year.
Why not get involved in a production, just to see what all the singing’s about? We’ll wager you’ll want to stick around.
