By Timothy X. Troy ’85
Reprinted from the Boynton Society Newsletter, a publication for supporters of Björklunden vid Sjön.
Tim Troy is associate professor of theatre arts and J. Thomas and Julie
Esch Hurvis Professor of Theatre and Drama. A Lawrence alumnus, he has been
a member
of the college’s faculty since 1997.
Professor [of Biology Nicholas] Maravolo introduced me to the old lodge at
Björklunden in my freshman year, the autumn of 1981. The chill air, the
gentle lap of the waves, and the camaraderie of that weekend remain with me
still. For me, the wonder of Björklunden remains some 20 years and a score
of visits later.
Now, as a Lawrence faculty member, I relish the opportunity to bring my theatre
students — many for their first visit — to the new lodge each October.
Since 1998, we have forged a tradition in our department of taking a weekend
away from the main campus to work (and play!) on our Fall Term production.
For two nights and three days the Great Room is our rehearsal hall, and we
begin
the process of breathing life into musicals by Steven Sondheim and Frank Loesser
and the plays of Brian Friel and William Shakespeare. We end each day with
a campfire and start each day with a walk in the woods. The students enjoy
the
opportunity to focus on the play, and I enjoy the concentrated hours of uninterrupted
exploration the lodge affords us.
However, one visit each year isn’t nearly enough, so I’ve eagerly
embraced the opportunity to teach in the summer seminar program, as well.
In my most recent Björklunden seminar, we explored one of my ancillary interests — old-time
radio drama. The first day I met with my adult students, many of them were baffled
that someone my age had such a deep interest and affection for those “old-fashioned
radio shows.” I soon allayed their fears, as we began our survey of the
range and depth of many broadcast greats. I especially enjoyed the moments when
a show I presented triggered someone’s childhood memories.
My students returned my offering of the best and most compelling radio productions
with poignant recollections of their childhoods and, at the end of the week,
assured me they “got a lot” out of my course. I can assure you
that the stories they shared were truly a special enrichment in my life.
During that same seminar, one of the student workers at Björklunden encouraged
me to try a new activity. Brad Behrmann’04, who has been in several
Lawrence theatrical productions, encouraged me to hop on one of the bicycles
available
at the lodge and find the prairie path, so I did.
To say that my first little bike ride was fun is an understatement. It felt
as if I found religion! I kept asking myself, “Why did it take 39 years
to discover just how much fun riding a bike on a trail can be?”
By the end of that week I had ridden trails at Newport and Peninsula State
Parks. Within days of arriving back home, I traded my Schwinn cruiser and bought
my
first mountain bike. You can be sure I took my bike on our annual theatre retreat
last October.
I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones each time I am invited
to present a summer seminar. Though the air in July isn’t quite as chilly
as on my first visit with “Doc” Maravolo, the lapping waves still
accompany our seminar discussions, our afternoon chats on the deck — and,
yes, even a bike ride along the lake.