Happy Easter to everyone. We are experiencing more sadness in this cottage as we learned of the passing of two of our friends yesterday. Both men were part of the The Old Globe Theater, the place where Don and I met, and where we both spent so many years of our working life.
Raul was a stage manager who I adored and worked with many times. He was a true gentleman, kind, funny and gracious – a man of great integrity. He fought chronic illness for years with grace and dignity. He traveled the world. He was recovering at home from heart surgery – well on his way, we thought, to a full recovery when he died quietly in his sleep.
As I was trying to cope with the news of Raul’s passing, my husband broke the news to me that Craig Noel, founder of the Old Globe, also passed away yesterday at the age of 94. Craig was the most wonderful of men – I was so lucky to have known and worked with him. He was also a mentor to my husband. Craig discovered Don when he was a teenager and helped guide him into the world of professional theater – he gave him his Equity card, as well.
Craig had a wicked sense of humor, a true passion for theater, a generous spirit and oh, the stories he could tell. When our lives took us from the west to the east, we would call Craig on holidays. Last summer when I was working in San Diego, Don and I spent an afternoon with Craig. At 93, he was very frail but we caught him on a good day. We reminisced together about productions, people, places and we laughed and laughed. I am so grateful we had that time together.
I worked on many shows that were stage managed by Raul and directed by Craig. How strange that they left us on the same day.
Too much loss lately…too much loss.
