Lady in the Lighthouse: The Catherine Gallagher Story is an original production created and performed by singer and storyteller Cindy Campbell-Stone. Catherine, also known as Mrs. Edward Gallagher, was a primary source for folklorist Dr. Helen Creighton.
The show is called “Lady in the Lighthouse” because Catherine’s niece, Marion, described her as a lovely person, and everyone thought she was a “real lady.”
Assisted by a grant from the Helen Creighton Folklore Society’s Grant-In-Aid Program and over a decade of investigation and research, Cindy created and designed this one-woman show and has dedicated it to Max Gallagher and the Gallagher family. The production contains various stories from Catherine’s life, and seven of the forty songs that she sang for Helen.
On September 18th, Cindy, appearing as Catherine Gallagher, presented her one-of-a-kind show to a full house in the cozy event space at Dartmouth Book Exchange. Set in 1945, in a lighthouse at the edge of a cliff at Chebucto Head, Catherine appears to us in costume, happily dancing and singing; I’m going to get married. With the use of props and a wonderful set design, Catherine tells us her life story.
“Catherine Marion Scott Gallagher was born in 1887 and raised on a farm in Enfield, Nova Scotia. She was one of nine children. Her Father, Donald Scott, was a farmer and a railway man. It was mostly her mother, Sophia Horne Scott, that taught Catherine many songs, ballads, and broadsides.” In 1945, Catherine, A former teacher, was ready to settle down and raise a family when a house fire, an explosion and two world wars turned her life upside down.”- cited from the show’s program
Reviews for Lady in the Lighthouse:
“Cindy’s performance, in costume and with wonderful set design, was rich in drama and humour. Cindy took us through Catherine Gallagher’s life and did so with a reverence for her subject that paid respect to the woman and her family. Cindy’s voice in song is incredible. The emotion she shared when she sang a ballad brought tears to my eyes and squeezed my heart. The enthusiasm she brought to a knee-slappin’, foot stomping lively folk tune had me toe tappin’ the floorboards of the hall.”- Lana Shupe
“Wearing a vintage apron and using props to further submerge us into the time of Catherine. This show is an example of life and times long past and soon to be forgotten if not recorded in such a way that future generations can see and experience it.”- Sue Slade
We were honoured that Dartmouth Book Exchange could host this one-of-a-kind 5-star show. Cindy will once again bring her show to life at Dartmouth Book Exchange on November 20. Preregistration is required; space is limited.
Cindy is a long-time member of the storytelling community and of the Helen Crieghton Folklore Society and is a big supporter of Dartmouth Book Exchange. Cindy offers workshops and performances of storytelling in general, community or historical stories, oral history and folklore, folksongs and ballads. Cindy’s sense of fun in her workshops and performances aims to provide delightful learning and listening experiences to audiences of all ages. For more information or to contact Cindy, see her website at: https://cindystoryteller.com