Volunteers at Hackmatack Playhouse Run the Show

On a recent day, Julie McTague of Epping was showing ticket-holders to their seats at Hackmatack Playhouse. McTague is taking the summer off from acting but still wants to hang out at this theater on a farm in Berwick.

Usher Stephanie Morneault of Berwick, who has been bringing daughter back and forth to The Playhouse for nearly a decade, wanted to stay and enjoy herself too. Then, there was Diane Marcinonis of Sanford, who heard from a friend that ushering at Hackmatack is fun. She tried it once and was sold.

These three women answer requests for aisle seats, hand out programs and apologize to the seated who have to get up for the fifth time. They also are among the dozens of volunteers who not only make this summer stock theater function but give it the friendly small town feeling that keeps audiences enamored.

When ticket-holders show up this month for the last production of the season, Almost, Maine, they will most likely be touched not only by the series of vignettes about love and loss, but by the welcoming spirit of the volunteers.

"People comment on the quality of our actors, who come from all over the country to perform each summer in Maine," said Hackmatack's executive producer Michael Guptill. "But we also hear over and over again how much our audiences enjoy the intimate and gracious atmosphere. And that is largely a result of our community of volunteers."

If they get lucky they may even be shown to their seats by usher emeritus Ann Kimball of Berwick, an elementary school friend many decades ago of Carlton Guptill, the late founder of the theater.

In addition to leading people to their seats, volunteers staff the concessions stand, selling the desserts, popcorn, beverages and souvenir t-shirts available at the concession booth. Every Wednesday to Saturday, including Thursday's matinees, teenagers, senior citizens, actors and just plain friends of the Guptill family arrive to help Guptill and his team present an ace performance.

"It's awesome to work here," said Katie Austin, 15 of South Berwick, who was sharing the concessions responsibility with Sydney Goselin, 12, of North Berwick.

Goselin is a camper at Hackmatack's camp, but loves to stick around to see the main stage shows and be part of the energy that is Hackmatack. She admitted that learning the price of each candy bar and beverage can be tough at first, but it doesn't take long.

"It's kind of hard after first" she said, "but then you get it."

For many of the volunteers, the free ticket to a show is a great incentive. Austin was getting set to see On the Town for the Second Time, for instance.

Hackmatack will be giving out free pie at its last show of the season, the Saturday, Sept. 3 production of Almost, Maine. Not just any pie, but the much sought-after and beloved blueberry pie baked by Guptill's wife Gayle Guptill using local blueberries. And not just anyone will be serving the pie, in addition to the baker herself, one or more volunteers will be by her side, feverishly scooping vanilla ice cream for those who want it a la mode.

Pictured: Stephanie Morneault of Berwick volunteers as an usher at Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick and earns herself a ticket into the ongoing production, which sometimes includes her daughter in the cast.

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