Wednesday, January 07, 2004

By Christopher Rawson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The first column of 2004 is a time to remember those the theater lost in 2003. There were many national losses, led by Katharine Hepburn (96), Bob Hope (100) -- both Broadway stars before Hollywood -- Elia Kazan (94), Al Hirschfeld (99) and Hume Cronyn (91). Others include Gerald Gutierrez (53), Alan Bates (69), Dorothy Loudon (70), Art Carney (85), Herb Gardner (68), Gregory Hines (57), Elliot Norton (100), Pauline Flanagan (77), Joseph Chaikin (67), George Axelrod (81), Wendy Hiller (90), Peter Stone (73), Michael Jeter (50), Paul Zindel (66), Lynne Thigpen (54), Tanya Moiseiwitsch (88) and Nell Carter (54).

The death of Isabelle Stevenson (90), the indomitable longtime head of the American Theater Wing, custodian of the Tony Awards, prompted this quip from an old compatriot in the backstage theater wars who also knows his "Antony and Cleopatra": "What, can Isabelle die?" Equally indomitable was Mervyn "Butch" Blake (95), a perennial at Ontario's Stratford Festival, who appeared in every play of Shakespeare's in a career of more than 70 years.

Locally, one of the greatest losses was Carol A. Hoffmann (53), who died June 4. She was the curator of the indispensable Ford & Harriet Curtis Theatre Collection at Pitt's Hillman Library, one of Pittsburgh's little-known gems. While Pitt finds a replacement, assistant Bill Daw holds the fort.

Playwright and actor John Henry Redwood (60), who died June 17, was a resident of New Jersey, an imposing figure in the American theater and an honorary citizen of Pittsburgh. Reserved, courtly and of gentle demeanor, he had a warm, deep rumble of a voice and was passionate about theater and life. He starred in four August Wilson plays at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, which also produced his "A Sunbeam" (1991) and "The Old Settler" (1998), but he also touched the heart of Pittsburgh by writing social service plays, teaching at a Bible school, doing hospital reading and serving the Race for the Cure, the Hill District library and the Martin Luther King Cultural Center.

Eileen Rodgers Thompson (73), a singer and Broadway performer, died July 13 in North Carolina. She was a star of the active 1950s Pittsburgh supper club scene. Taking to the road as lead vocalist with the Charley Spivak Orchestra, she recorded for Columbia ("Miracle of Love"), appeared in Broadway musicals ("Fiorello!," "Tenderloin") and did most of the musical TV shows of the day ("Ed Sullivan"). A CD, "The Best of Eileen Rodgers," is available through Collectors Choice Music in Chicago or at www.cc-music.com.

Glen Z. Gress (72), died Feb. 1. He is vividly remembered as artistic director, actor, director, coach and chief engine from 1985 to 1996 of Pittsburgh's Laurel Highlands Regional Theatre, later the Acting Company, which he and Edward Kinchley Evans co-founded. When the two retired, they moved to a big old riverside house in Emlenton, but Glen continued to work, directing "Iolanthe" for the Pittsburgh Savoyards in 2001.

George C. Anderson Jr. (77), died Nov. 11. He performed in many productions of the Red Barn and Glenshaw theaters and helped established the now defunct Northstar Players. Very natural on stage, he was the standout in the Red Barn plays I saw. His favorite roles are said to have been Fagin in "Oliver!" and the father in "All My Sons."

David Crantz (79), who died Dec. 17, is best known as a central figure in Pittsburgh broadcasting, but his fine touch in comedy writing often served the theater, most notably in "Fifty Grand," a 1950 Playhouse show that almost went on to Broadway.

Gabe Rubin (92), who died Nov. 4, was a theater impresario who had Edward G. Robinson over for Thanksgiving dinner and Rex Harrison to lunch. He started out as an usher in the old Nixon Theater, was one of the first to bring drive-in theaters to Western Pennsylvania and later owned the new Nixon. He co-produced the Pittsburgh tour of "Hello, Dolly!" starring Carol Channing, another of his friends.

London calling

Sunday the Post-Gazette will announce a Critic's Choice trip to London, March 2-9 -- but because of US Airways deadlines, there will be just one week in which to sign up. Heading the attractions will be Judi Dench in "All's Well That Ends Well." For full info, see Sunday's announcement or call 412-441-3131.

Bottom Line

Paid admissions at city's pro theaters for week ending Jan. 4:

The Graduate/Heinz (68%) ... 14,567

Cafe Puttanesca/City (99%) ... 1,605

Final words

"Start the day with a smile. End the day with pie." -- On the wall of a diner in Jeannette.

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