Wednesday, June 27, 2007

William Hutt, 1920-2007

I had the privilege of working with William Hutt when he came to The Vancouver Playhouse to play Thomas More in "A Man For All Seasons" during the 1984-85 theatre season. Twenty-two years ago.

Today has been befuddled in years and remembrance.

The memory of the scenes we played together has dimmed with time but one memory has remained most vivid.

During the interval one evening, the cast sitting around in the Green Room, I related a story that caused that remarkable face to suddenly burst into a full throated roar of laughter that only an actor's larynx can produce.

I love that memory.

We have lost a great artist today, one of the finest Shakespearean actors of the 20th century and perhaps the greatest stage actor this country has ever produced.

It is said he wants his tombstone to say, simply, "Soldier and Actor."

"He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again."

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