A Tribute to Louis Husson
As he approaches his 80 th birthday on December 8, Charleston Light Opera Guild veteran Louis Husson is currently the only active founding member of the group. During his 55 years with the guild, no role on or off stage has been too large or too small for Husson.
Husson has appeared on stage in singing choruses to cameo roles to leading characters with 76 guild productions. He has worked behind the scenes from stage and lighting crews to set designer/stage manager to president of the guild's governing board of directors. His versatile characters have varied from villains, gamblers, intriguing characters and con-men to sympathetic caring souls and leaders, all performed with conviction and depth of character.
His roles include Jigger in "Carousel," Ali Hakim in "Oklahoma," "Max Detweiler" in "The Sound of Music," Nicely-Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls," The Mysterious Man in "Into the Woods," the Wazir in "Kismet," Emile de Becque in "South Pacific," Herr Schultz in "Cabaret," Colonel Pickering in "My Fair Lady," Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof," John Hancock in "1776" and Julian Marsh in "42 nd Street".
Louis has been a natural comedian since his guild debut as a sailor in the premiere operetta "HMS Pinafore" in 1949. A graduate of the Mason College of Music, Louis studied voice under guild founder Leonard Stocker. Through the years his characters have continued to bring a smile to West Virginia audiences. Who will forget the dancing, prancing governor in "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," the lovable Sancho in "Man of La Mancha," the scheming Fitch in "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying," the vaudevillian Frank and Captain Andy in two productions of "Showboat," the protective Ito in "Mame," the hilarious Spettigue in "Where's Charlie," the jury of many faces in "Chicago" or the patter-singing major general in "Pirates of Penzance"?
His reputation alone has sold out Light Opera Guild productions. But, it is the role of the simple dairyman, Tevye, in "Fiddler on the Roof" which remains his favorite. Louis says, "The character is something I've lived in my personal life. As the son of an Eastern Orthodox priest I grew up with traditions and as one who broke with tradition, I understand the feelings".
Louis romanced his late wife Jane while portraying Herbie to her Mama Rose in the1976 Guild production of "Gypsy". Together they designed and built sets for productions of "Barnum" and "The Wiz" in the 1980's. They last performed together as the song and dance team, The Whitmans in the 1999 Guild 50 th Anniversary production of "Follies".
Louis is a veteran of World War II. He was honored in 1990 with the Mayor's Individual Artist Award. He has performed for senators, dignitaries and local audiences; he has performed with most of Charleston's performing arts groups and the specialty group, the Guildaires, but it is his musical theatre roles with the guild with which he is most recognized. Today, Louis still volunteers with the Light Opera Guild on and off stage, oversees the maintenance of the Guild Theatre and finds time to sing at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. He also finds time for his other avocation as an avid fisherman and for his four children and six grandchildren.
"If I have brought joy to audiences, it was worth the time and sacrifice," says Husson, with pride, a tear and a twinkle in his eye. "It has been most rewarding to give that which I love to my community. It is very fulfilling to hear from those who have attended guild productions and learn how our productions and my characters have brought laughter, tears and enrichment to their lives. It's been a great life!"
