Fred Griswold makes me laugh.

I started out on Tee’s site, where he mentioned a tribute penned by none other than The Great John Robinson concerning the passing of another great, Fred Griswold.  So I went in search of
that memoir.

Fred was a large part of my growing up in theatre.  If you read John’s post, he talks about Christmas Carol, and Fred being the original (and most fantastic, in my book) Scrooge.  He also talks about Fred’s humor.  I was part of the second year of CC, just a mere Christmas Present Attendent next to Sharon’s awesomeness, and I remember Fred telling me something that I’ve ALWAYS remembered. 

We were in rehearsal one day, and it was just d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g on.  I was miserable.  My part was composed of one scene and one scene only, but it felt like we had been doing it for hours.  And that director’s voice was grating on my nerves: "YOU GIRLS WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE YOU CAN SING.. SO SING!!" (If I only realized how often Viv’s voice would be part of my landscape..) and I was hungry and we were in that OLLLLD Fantasy building (the one by the library that was falling apart and, I think, has been condemned) and I was getting antsy and whiny and was just generally being the eleven year-old that I’m unkind to now, when Fred leaned down to me and whispered, "It’s not your show, honey.  When they see what they want to see, we’ll go.  You have to HELP them see what they want to see.. see?"

And when Fred told you something, you listened.  You listened with your ears, naturally, but with your olefacotry senses too, as Fred always smelled of spices and pipe tobacco.  He also had an electricity to him that made your spine listen.  He was such a character.  Such a character.

Fred and I worked together oodles after that.  But I’ll never forget him for that one comment.  It’s become a life’s mantra.. you have to help people see what they’re looking to see.

Also, the following comments on John’s post regarding the Green Dragon had me in tears.  Those urchins were my classmates growing up: the Adam Brownings, the Jameel Lewises, the Jonathan McDaniels.. they were the ones who taught me humor.

So.. it’s time again for Christmas Carol.  And remembering Fred just brought back my Christmas Spirit.