PAL CANADA

There was no disagreement with Stratford Festival’s Artistic Director Des McAnuff’s depiction of Douglas Campbell as one of our true Theatre Giants, during a memorial held in the Festival Theatre in November. Speaker after speaker extolled his brilliance, his passion, his loving support for the Theatre and her practitioners and his commitment -indeed demand for excellence from himself and those sharing the stage with him. A generous spirit who loved nothing better than to be amongst fellow artists, his Memorial attested to his joy of life and people by the many roars of laughter exploding from the attendees, many of whom had had the pleasure of working with him over his long, successful career. An original Stratford Festival company member, Douglas was born in Glasgow, Scotland on June 11, 1922. He died in a Montreal hospital from diabetes and resultant congestive heart disease, surrounded by his family and wife, actress Moira Wylie. With Tom Patterson, Douglas co-founded the Canadian Players in 1954, to take Shakespeare to Canada’s north and the U.S. in the theatre off-season. He was an early member of PAL Stratford and, in 1998, moved to Montreal where he continued acting. He leaves his second wife, Moira Wylie, along with four sons and two daughters, many of whom followed him into the Theatre, and several further descendents including two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife Ann Casson in 1990.

The word that keeps re-appearing in any discussion regarding Joan Orenstein was “passion”. She was passionate about everything she undertook and in every argument she used to underpin her desire to help make the world a more peaceful, loving place and those in it more committed to social equality, fairness and justice. It was only to be expected that she would be an original worker for PAL Halifax and fiercely concerned about the welfare of her performing community. Joan died in October from complications due to pneumonia, a little over a year after her soulmate and husband, Henry, a prolific artist and former CBC graphics designer. Joan’s commitment to a theatrical career came late, but she quickly made up for any lost time, building a reputation for vigorous, no-holds-barred devotion and excellence in many memorable roles on the stages through our country. In the process, she pushed and cajoled -even dared and threatened, if necessary- those around her to achieve far more that they thought themselves capable. Fellow actor Nicola Lipman aptly described her as “a force of nature, like a sunset or tornado…” and she touched so many people in her tireless pursuit of perfection until an accident curtained her career at the age of 80. Joan Orenstein leaves five daughters Jill, Edie, Cia, Tweel, Ruth and Sarah and 5 grandsons to mourn her passing, along with many fans, friends and grateful colleagues. Donations may be made in her name to PAL Halifax.

Maritime members were rocked in July by the sudden death of Bill Forbes, only recently elected as Interim-president of PAL Halifax. Bill was involved with PAL Halifax from its founding, serving continuously through the early stages of its development to the present. He was elected Interim-president in early Summer, when the office was vacated upon the departure of Gary Vermier. Gary has reassumed the Presidency following Bill’s death. Bill was working at the Ship’s Company Theatre, in Parrsboro at the time and was found in his Kennetcook home when he failed to appear at rehearsals. He was 50 years old. He leaves a large void in that community and PAL Halifax Chapter.

Sylvia Lennick, one of the last surviving members of the Wayne and Shuster comedy troupe, died in Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in August. A tireless worker for artists she served in various capacities as an elected officer of ACTRA and, along with her husband, Ben, worked to make sure performers knew from whence they came and would not forget the sacrifices of those who went before. Her support for PAL was instant and lasting. She was 93.

Sylvia, a success in all media, uttered the famous line, “I told him, Julie, don’t go!” in a Wayne & Shuster spoof of Julius Caesar, on the Ed Sullivan Show. She attained recognition as a Bronx-accented Calpurnia and the line became a catch phrase everywhere.

Her husband, Ben, predeceased her in 1996, and during many years service on ACTRA Councils, they both championed PAL and encouraged the union’s support of its work. They are survived by their children, Michael, David and Julie.