Gina Wilkinson / Peter Donaldson

 Gina Wilkinson

 I never had a chance to work with Gina but we always had a chat when she came by our agent's office. Always a delight and always with a fabulous smile.

Peter Donaldson

Peter and I only worked together once years ago in a production of Souvenirs at Theatre Calgary. He never once laughed at me when I had to make my second act entrance dripping from head to toe in stage blood. I truly admired that since I would have laughed at me. He was a wonderful man.

 

Domini Blythe 1947-2010

 Toronto Star Obit

PlayBill Obit

What can I say. She was lovely. She was supremely talented. She was the devastatingly beautiful woman I got to work with in my first professional job.

We all played poker one night. She would always say something like "Darling I am so sorry that four of a kind beat your two pair" and take all my money.
I never minded because she was Domini Blythe.

I asked her once why she kept a couple of hundred dollars in her passport. And why she kept her passport with her all the time. She said "Darling you never know when you might have to run for the airport."

The story is told that while at the Citadel Theatre Lorraine Price's young son asked her why she said "Darling" all the time. Domini replied "Well Darling, it's because I'm affected."

I had not seen her for years but I will miss her.

Denis Simpson: November 1950 – October 22, 2010

the Obit

Well what can I say. Denis was an old,old friend. He was always first in line to help when we needed a powerhouse entertainer for Obsidian.
We worked together years ago on the Colored Museum which was produced at the Tarragon Theatre. There is still a picture up of the cast in the theatre.
He was the guy with the biggest heart and the widest smile.
For years we would laugh about an Irie restaurant that managed to take the full hour of our meal break to make some veggies on rice. We would look at each other and with the biggest most exagerated Jamaican accent we would proclaim "But Waaaaiiiitt" and then laugh.

I wish someone could have just said to him the other day.....But Waaaiiit Denis.

Abby Lincoln 1930-2010

Here is the obit from the New York Times

I don't care what they say about her Marilyn dress this is still my favourite album cover.

June Faulkner 1926-2010

June Faulkner

What a pleasure it was to have worked at TWP with June and Calvin.

Douglas Campbell 1922-2009

Douglas Campbell

Jack Medhurst Memorial

h/t Jess Cohoon

There is a memorial / celebration of Jack Medhurst's life at the Celebrity Club, (housed in the PAL building on the Esplanade - Toronto) on Friday, October 2 at 8:00 pm. A photo of Jack will be placed on the wall of notables. Refreshments will be served, courtesy of Jack's family but it is a cash bar.

If you know of anyone else who would be interested, please forward the information.

On another note, we would like to contact Leslie Whitaker, Herb's niece. She was involved in several productions that Jack was involved in. If you have any co-ordinates on her please send me an email.

Brenda Devine

Brenda Marie Devine




Back in the day when I had finished theatre school and went to the Shaw Festival as my first job I met Pam Rogers who would go on to be a life long friend. She introduced me to Brenda Devine and with assorted family and friends we had a bit of a brat pack that worked, played and ate prodigiously together. I didn't see much of Brenda over the last number of years. Chance meetings at a theatre or the subway but somehow she was always in my heart as a dear friend. The picture above is one I took of her on one of our many trips to farm country around St. Marys. She seemed translucent, ephemeral and yet so present. I will always cherish the memories of all of us sitting on Brenda's steps sipping coffee and scotch first thing in the mornings.


pectus pectoris teneo quoque tardus quam desidero

Trevor Rhone 1940-2009

I worked with Trevor Rhone in 1975 on a production of his play Schools Out for Black Theatre Canada. It was my first experience with a tumultuous, rambunctious audience and with the huge energy of the man himself. Obsidian was proud to have produced Two Can Play in 2005.

Some of the obits are here: The Gleaner & CBC

Mantee Murphy Memorial & Karaoke

Friends of Mantee Murphy are hosting events to commemorate his life. At this point there are events planned in Toronto and Winnipeg. Please head over, hoist a few and sing some tunes.

Toronto
Start Time: Monday, September 14, 2009 at 9:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 12:00am
Location: FOX AND FIDDLE 280 Bloor Street West
Toronto
Phone: 4169664369

Facebook Page


Winnipeg
Start Time: Monday, September 14, 2009 at 9:00pm
End Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 1:00am


Check here for the Winnipeg location
Facebook Page

On Monday, September 14th, friends of Mantee Murphy will come together to celebrate the life of this tremendous performer and beautiful friend, with one of Mantee's favourite activities - karaoke.

This event will be taking place in numerous cities across Canada - wherever Mantee made his mark on the world. Please come out and remember this great man with the other people who love and miss him.

Mantee Murphy

Neil Monroe

Neil Monroe

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 13, 2009…The Shaw Festival Company is deeply saddened to announce today the passing of long-time Resident Director, Neil Munro. Mr. Munro died July 13, 2009 at the age of 62 at London Ontario’s University Hospital after a lengthy illness. He is predeceased by his wife Carole Galloway and is survived by his sister Anna Munro, nephew John Munro and his mother-in-law Stella Galloway and sister-in-law Jackie Martinez.



On making this announcement, Jackie Maxwell commented: “Neil Munro created an indelible mark on the Shaw Festival. As a director he had a vision that was unique — blending extraordinarily detailed preparation with brilliant and at times outrageous ideas, always in the service of illuminating and revitalizing each play. His passion for theatre was immense, only matched by that for the artists he worked with – especially actors. As Resident Director, his commitment to and love for the Ensemble and all it stood for was clear daily as was his brilliant sceptical humour which unsuccessfully hid his true warmth and empathy. We already miss him terribly but our vivid memories of his talent and his passion will live on here at The Shaw, and I know, in the hearts of the many, many Canadians artists whose lives he touched.”

I wrote about Jack Medhurst here.

I just found out that there will be a Memorial Service for him.

The Memorial Service for Jack will be held on Thursday, April 9 between 2-4 at the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care, 59 Lawson Road, Scarborough, M1C 2J1. It is south of Kingston Road between Morningside and Port Union Road.
RSVP to kphiggins@sympatico.ca. The number there is 416-284-9235. The notice suggests in lieu of flowers, to please make a donation to the Centre.

Sorry for the late notice but please make it out if you can.

In That Great Getting Up Morning

I just heard that Jack Medhurst passed away on December 18th.

Back in the day Jack was the man. He did it all. And in my years at Ryerson he taught acting, movement and makeup. Always the consummate professional. Over the years I would run into Jack in the oddest places. Yonge and Gerrard, Robson Street, the RTS reunion. Always at unexpected times.

About 8 months ago my friend Jesse said, as we were finishing up lunch, "Do you know where Jack is?". And I said oh yeah he is living down at PAL. Turns out he had moved out so I contacted Ryerson and eventually I found out that he had moved to a nursing home in Scarborough. I passed the information on and Jesse and his sister Cheryl looked him up. And so it was at the end of his life that Jack spent a huge amount of comradeship and care with Jesse and Cheryl who had been among his first students lo those many years ago. Cheryl sent me a package today that had the obit, photos and a very sweet note.

And so it got me thinking. Especially since there have been a number of "famous" people dying, that here was one of the grand old men of Canadian theatre and he was pretty much forgotten. Not by his students but by the world in general. Much like Bob Christie, David Harris {Actors' Company in Hoxton} or Larry Ewashen. All former teachers of mine. There were many more.

There are many others, who worked like we do, in this most ephemeral of arts and their legacy lives on in dwindling stories, old playbills and that life saving nugget of information that we use to solve a tricky moment on stage.

I start directing a new play tomorrow. As always we start with the best intentions, high hopes and the desire to create a lasting impact. And therein lies the dichotomy. Lasting impact in a transitory art. An art that can only really live in the memories of those who saw it. An art whose reality will forever be shaped by the context around that memory. A thousand versions of each moment spring forth.

And so what is left to do but to create and live each moment fully in the art. Realize that each performance is unique, precious and melts away like cotton candy.
To do as we did back in the day...ribs up, breath from the sides, head straight and turn 2, 3, 4.

Fade to black. Thanks Jack.

In That Great Getting Up Morning

Eartha Kitt


Harold Pinter


In That Great Getting Up Morning