By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
July 23, 1995
After a two-year battle with lymphoma – a cancer of the lymph glands – Chicago-based performance artist Brigid Murphy is enjoying her recovery. In a big way. To celebrate her health and to thank her friends and fans for their support, Murphy is bringing back her vaudevillian “Milly’s Orchid Show,” which she has staged since 1987.
“Milly’s” went on hiatus in 1993 when Murphy got ill.
The show Saturday at the Park West marks Murphy’s return to the stage as Milly May Smithy and promises a lineup that includes Mekons member John Langford in a dress, no less, a film by Nora Dunn, Lynda Barry, Syd Straw, Cheryl Trykv, Paula Killen, Counselo Allen, John “Sinatra” Connors, Mark Smith, the Muntu Dance Theatre and Milly’s all-boy dancers, the Coal Diggers.
Murphy, 30, took a breather from rehearsals recently to chat with Showcase about her show and her recovery.
Q. You have many fans and friends in Chicago who are worried about your health. How are you doing?
Murphy: I’m all well now. I got my bone marrow transplant a year ago, and I finished my treatment in April. I’m just doing all kinds of stuff now to detox and regenerate my body. I’m drinking tons of cran-raspberry juice and not much else. Plus, I’m starting to prepare for my fall dive into film school. I got a fellowship to Columbia (College), which is amazing because it’s just a miracle to me that I could get it.
Q. You’re overcoming a life-threatening disease, and it’s a miracle getting into film school? That’s probably just icing on the cake.
Murphy: (Laughs.) True. Actually, life is just a piece of cake now that I’m well. I remember when I was really sick, it depressed me to not be able to do simple things like the dishes.
Q. And now you can do all the dishes you like.
Murphy: Now I would give anything for a dishwasher!
Q. How has your lifestyle changed since your battle with lymphoma?
Murphy: I’ve cut everything bad from my diet. I was really healthy to begin with, which gave me an advantage.
Q. So what made you decide to do another “Milly’s Show”?
Murphy: I felt like it was important that I publicly acknowledge all the people who’ve supported me over the years and through my illness. The show really is for the audience, and this one in particular is because everyone has had a part in me being better. My illness was public, and it’s important that people know I’m alive and kicking. I think it also helps people to hear a good story, and I am one person who’s made it and triumphed. For me to get through some tough times, my inspiration was the people who survived concentration camps in Nazi Germany. That seemed insurmountable to me.
Q. When Poi Dog Pondering had their big gigs, you played in the band. Will Frank (her boyfriend and Poi Dog Pondering leader Frank Orrall) be playing in yours?
Murphy: Frank will be in the band, which is the Waco Sisters. It also includes John Langford of the Mekons and another British guy who’s the stage manager at the Park West. My worry was that these guys wouldn’t put on dresses for their gig, but the stage manager told me, “You don’t have to ask a Brit twice to put on a dress!”
It’s going to be a lot of fun.
Q. How will this “Milly’s” differ from past productions?
Murphy: Well, for one, there will be an intermission. (Laughs.) During the first one, my stage manager told me to take the intermission out. He said, “You’re going to lose them,” and that made me afraid the audience would leave. But at this show, there will be a lot of people who know each other and will want to chat. So it’s for them. And for me. I could use the break, too. As for the material, that was a big point of consideration for me about who Milly is and where she has been. The Milly aspect of the show in terms of what she’ll talk about will be a bit changed just because I’ve changed, and she’s always been an extension of me. Although having said that, I have no idea what it’s going to be like until I get on the stage.
Q. Now for the important question. What purchases are you going to make for returning to school?
Murphy: I have to go get a new pencil case and new Oxfords. Then I’ll be set.
`Milly’s Orchid Show’
8 p.m. Saturday;
Park West, 322 W. Armitage
Tickets, $15-$30
Park West box office, (312) 929-5959; Unabridged Books, (312) 883-9119; Lounge Ax, (312) 525-6620; or Wax Trax Records, (312) 862-2121
