from BJ Jones

Larry Gelbart passed away on September 11, 2009.  He was a friend of mine and all here at Northlight, and was the author of the semi-autobiographical play Better Late, which he penned with the help of Craig Wright (and which went on to become the highest grossing play in Northlight’s history).

I’ve been thinking about Larry since he passed away.   I spoke with him last on the 4th of July weekend after reading in the NY Times of a famous actress who wanted someone to write a play for her.   She was notoriously outrageous and when I mentioned contacting her and writing a play for her, he said he would think about it.   “She’s quite a handful, you know, Beej.”   I said that I knew that, and told him handling handfuls was my specialty, and he laughed at that.

I asked him how he was and he said getting old was hard.   I thought there was something in the comment but I didn’t want to press further.   We chatted a bit, he inquired after my wife Candy and all here at Northlight.   We closed on a quip – he was the quickest witted man I know and even at 81, he always left you on a laugh.   I told him I missed him and he returned the compliment.

A week later he sent me his last e-mail, and in regards to writing a play for the aforementioned notorious actress he wrote, “I think I’d rather run away and join the Rodeo.”   He made me laugh.   He made us all laugh.  The talk-back with Craig Wright for Better Late in our Interplay Reading Series was hilarious and one of the most memorable events we’ve done at Northlight.   I’m so glad I have it on tape, as well as his chat with the cast at the first rehearsal of the full production.

In December 2008, the still-professionally active Gelbart found himself the subject of an Internet hoax which reported that he was “gravely ill . . . from a massive stroke.”  He was fine, of course and in response to an inquiring Los Angeles Times reporter he said : “I was dead, but I’m better now.”

He loved to go to EJ’s Place for steaks here in Skokie while we worked on Better Late.   The first time I took him there he swooned and as we left he asked the maitre’d if they were open for breakfast.   When he told Larry they weren’t, Larry tried to bribe him to open for him.   He insisted on taking his wife Pat there when she came into town to see the show.

He wrote personal notes to everyone here at Northlight who was involved in Better Late, even the actress who read the stage directions for Interplay!  She wrote me a note to tell me what a class act he was.   And he was.

I owe Craig Wright a debt of gratitude for introducing me to Larry.   Craig regarded Larry as a “show business father figure.”   I believe Larry was that for many young talented writers.   He could be tough and compassionate, sometimes in the same sentence.   Hollywood wounded him as it has so many, but he remained sensitive to the needs and concerns of others, as he certainly was to me.

He honored his commitment to Northlight though he certainly didn’t have to, he could have written the script and sent it to us and let the chips fall where they may.   But he came here for previews, made his changes in person, and trusted us to do what was best for the production.   He was quite a pro.

He was delighted that we took the play to Ireland for the Galway Arts Festival.   He called to see how it went and was so pleased for its success.   It was sold out before we arrived.   I know he would have loved to join us, but I think he knew something was up.   He kept it to himself though.

So I never got to say goodbye, and maybe that’s for the best.   But I will be forever grateful to him, for spending some time with us here, before he moved on.   I think we gave him a great experience.   Some things are meant to happen, and his timing was, as always, impeccable.