FORKNI-L
Digest - 27 Apr 2013 to 29 Apr 2013 (#2013-52)
Mon, 29 Apr 2013
There are 2 messages totalling 122 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. My deepest condolences to all on the passing of Greg Kramer
2. update from Libratsie re Greg
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Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:00:41 -0700
From: Bonnie <callalily@l.......>
Subject: My deepest condolences to all on the passing of Greg Kramer
I apologize for my silence. The news of Greg's passing has been difficult,
but the outpouring of affection - especially from the theatre community -
has been incredible. He really did touch a lot of lives in very positive ways.
I would like to pass along some information that you many not have.
The exact cause of death has not been made public, to the best of my
knowledge, but cardiac arrest, stroke, or aneurysm seem most likely under
the circumstances - his death was sudden and unexpected. He had been doing
very well lately - seemed to be in good spirits and to have a lot of energy
- despite battling cancer for many years now and being HIV positive since
before he filmed 'Fever'. Ironically, I had re-watched that very episode
just a couple of days before the news. I had meant to make some fresh screen
caps of that episode, for old times sake, but I just can't bear to do it now.
Members of Greg's family have flown in from England and there have recently
been memorial services in both Montreal and Ottawa (where he was a resident
for the past several years - among other things, he'd been teaching at a
university there). Additional memorial services are being planned for
England, Toronto, and Vancouver. If I receive information about any of
those, I will pass it along, in case you are so inclined to attend.
Greg had been living in Montreal at the time of his death because the play
he had written - a new adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock
Holmes" - is in pre-production at the Segal Centre in Montreal. Holmes is a
popular subject these days, but it appears that his take on the characters
is quite different - darker, irreverent, exploring elements glossed over in
main stream productions - pretty much what you might hope from a treatment
by him. The show will go on - everyone is sure that's what he would want
and they want to pay tribute to the last words he penned. Opening night is
May 6 and it is expected that many of his friends in the theatre community
will be in attendance that night. Some members of his family have plans to
return to Canada for closing night on May 26. (Many shows are already sold
out, but I believe there are a few seats still available here and there; if
anyone is interested, you should check out the Segal Centre website ASAP.
I've been trying to figure out how to get off work in order to go myself,
but it's not looking likely with my work schedule.)
In the fall - probably late November - a large memorial gathering is
expected to occur and it is hoped that many of the people unable to travel
at this time will attend then. I have asked to be keep in the loop about
this and, if I hear anything, I will let you all know, in case you would
like to pay your respects in person and meet Greg's friends and colleagues.
Libby and I (and maybe some others among you) have met a few of these folks
over the years and Greg certainly seemed to have very nice, interesting,
personable friends.
That's about all the information I have. If you have specific questions,
feel free to ask - I don't know if I will have the answers but I'll let you
know if I do.
I have been spending some time recently, updating the "Screed Was Here"
website (http://screed.blackraptor.net) with this latest news - and great
thanks to Nancy B for continuing to host the site! I've added an 'In
Memoriam' page - basically, at this point, it's just a conglomeration of all
the really great things I've been reading and hearing about Greg. He is far,
far, far more popular than I'm sure any of us realized; he was deeply
respected for many of his vast array of talents.
If any of you would like to send me your thoughts or memories about Greg, I
will definitely add them to the page. (Amy R, I quoted you off your Bright
Knightie site - let me know if that's not okay.)
And, if any of you who run fan clubs for the other FK cast - Ger, Catherine,
Ben, Lisa - have been in contact with them recently, I think it would be
really nice to add any words they might like to contribute. It was 17 years
ago (!) that they worked with him, but they might remember a little
something they'd like to share.
And, now, because I'm a dork, I'm going to both quote and paraphrase FK.
Screed: "Had a good run, didn't we? A bit o' fun. Can't say nut'n better
than that."
Vachon: "That's a fact."
See you in hell, sailor - I'm sorry you beat me there.
Bonnie Pardoe
callalily@l.......
http://screed.blackraptor.net
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Date: Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:35:10 -0700
From: "Libby A. Smith" <libratsie@s.......>
Subject: update from Libratsie re Greg
Wanted to let everyone know I'm hanging in there. Feeling better, but there's
still moments I feel like I've been kicked in the gut... A friend is gone, yet
not. Every time I act, every time I write, a part of him is still here, eh?
One of the bits of acting advice Greg gave me over the years involved a tv
show audition. Off the top of my head, I can't remember which one but he got
the role by flinging himself against the wall during his audition. "Libs, if
you want to get their attention, throw yourself against the wall during the
audition!"
Yes, I've used it.
We have a good film community popping up around me. Some months ago, I was
cast in a student film called "Dead Wrong." Think Romeo & Juliet with
chainsaws. Yep, pretty bloody and a LOT of fun to film. Anyway, I was the
mother who didn't want her daughter to be with that horrible boy. In my big
scene, sort of a dream sequence, I walk around the corner holding a basket
of laundry to find my daughter and "her boy" in quite a bloody, gorey mess.
Originally, I was supposed to slip in the blood but the makeup/special effects
young lady wisely pointed out that could be dangerous considering we had to try
to get this in one take. So...
I got to fling myself against the wall, laundry basket flying, and slide down
in screaming into the pool of blood. (As a sidenote, I did tell them I could
scream loudly, but they still had to re-record a voice over of my scream
because I overpowered the sound equipment...)
I thought of Greg as I filmed that scene, made a mental note to thank him again
for his advice.
To be honest, I don't remember if I ever did send that message to him. Doesn't
really matter in the grand scheme of things, I guess.
By the way, 'Dead Wrong' one the Best Visual Effects award at the University of
Central Arkansas Film Festival last Friday.
I'll share more stories if anyone is interested. I will be involved in updating
his websites.
--Libs (the name Greg dubbed me)
Libratsie@s.......
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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 27 Apr 2013 to 29 Apr 2013 (#2013-52)
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