Thursday, October 4, 2012
//s3.amazonaws.com/skins.funeraltechweb.com/tribute-gestures/Candle.png
Meeting Bunny at the Charles
We had agreed to meet Bunny at The Charles Inn where we were staying to attend the Shaw Festival in 2006, about two weeks before is 80th birthday. We had seen pictures of him and in film but had never met. A mutual friend introduced us with an advance phone call. We found ourselves walking up to the Charles' reception desk where we were greeted by Dawn, Bunny's dear friend. I looked around and immediately saw an impeccably dressed elderly gentleman sitting grandly legs-crossed in a fireside chair sipping a single malt scotch on the rocks. I instantly knew he was Bunny, this striking man with the charming smile. He seemed to know me too as if we were already old friends. Bunny introduced us to everyone at the festival, showed us around Niagara-on-the-Lake, including his home. We shared meals at local restaurants, and he told us wonderful stories of his life in the theatre. We attended the production of The Crucible in which he artfully played Giles Fowler. Bunny made our visit so much richer. Having heard of him for years from out mutual friend, I finally got to meet him. Nothing about him was disappointing. He was even more delightful than I anticipated, a gracious and classy man who will be missed by all those who loved him, and there are many.