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Theatre puns running low among journos at Drabinsky-Gottlieb trial
Posted on May 6, 2008 by Douglas Bell
This country’s most famous and fabulous theatre impresario and his long-time partner went on trial for fraud yesterday morning in a large, airy courtroom (under an enormous coat of arms featuring a lion and a unicorn and the words Dieu et mon droit) on the fourth floor at 361 University Avenue—a mere driver and a wedge from the theatres that made Garth Drabinsky famous. The setting was likely a little dull for Garth’s taste. He did look good: tan and fit in a snappy check suit, with that insane shag carpet still growing out the top of his head. There were the usual oyeh, oyeh, oyehs, followed by the introduction of the Crown and its opponents, the Greenspan brothers.
The public benches were full to brimming with various Starers, Globites, CTVers, CBCers, a Bloomberger, a Blatchford, and my fellow Black blogger, the ever-affable Steve Skurka. Oh yeah, and a Grade 12 law class from Father Henry Carr. Eddie G. looked more at home in robes and collar than when I last saw him, wandering aimlessly among the cameras and ink-stained troglodytes in Chicago, on Conrad Black’s sentencing day last December.
He even trotted out a lame joke—something about having no one from the RCMP with him (the Crown has a couple of investigators from the force sitting on their side of the room). Then came six snappy “not guilties” from the two co-defendants, followed instantly by the Crown’s opening statement, which was delivered in less than 90 minutes by lead prosecutor Robert Hubbard.
As is usually the situation in these things, the substance of the case isn’t exactly South Pacific—though it was bracing to hear about an alleged musical theatre three-card monte in which money may have been moved from Ragtime to Candide to Phantom of the Opera and then somehow magically into the alleged pockets of the alleged fraudsters.
When the show was over for the day, a gaggle of journos hung around listening to an off-the-record insider speculate: “I realize this is language I shouldn’t use with ladies present, but have you ever heard of starfucking?” The journos all nodded as one, knowing pretty much exactly what he was talking about. It got me wondering about the grander picture, about why so many high-profile Canadian business types continued to sit on the board during a period in which it is now alleged things were going amiss, and about that peculiar mid-’90s phase when Show Boat applied not just to the players onstage, but also to those who pulled the strings.
• Livent trial opens with allegation of ‘large-scale fraud' [Globe and Mail]
• Livent duo plead not guilty [Variety]
• Crown’s opening at Livent trial required intermission [National Post]
• 2 sets of Livent books, trial told [Toronto Star]
• Livent bosses Drabinsky and Gottlieb directed massive fraud scheme, Crown alleges [CP]
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- Categories: General, Black Watch, Newspapers, Egos, Livent Trial
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Comments
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GravityLevity2 May 6, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.
from the Globe:
'The Crown's highest-profile witness is expected to be Gordon Eckstein, who was senior vice-president of finance at Livent. He pleaded guilty last year and was given a conditional sentence of two years less a day.
'Mr. Hubbard said Mr. Eckstein is expected to testify about his role as “the conduit” between the co-founders and Livent's accounting staff.”'
Remember when we were getting the pro-Black people tieing themeselves into knots of pro-Canadian indignation proclaiming that nothing like what the American prosecutors did with Radler could ever happen in Canada? How this proved that the Canadian justice system was fairer than the American?
Casey May 6, 2008 at 1:41 p.m.
Wonderful and colorful remarks by Douglas Bell about and description of yesterday's opening - and yep, many Canadian so called and self described big wigs, including and especially CB, BA and one half of the Eddy team are glorified starf-ckers. Perfect depiction of Garth and our other brown nosing butt kissers.
I know that one is presumed innocent until proved or not proved guilty but I am going on my so far near perfec t predictions thus far that Garth will end up in the slammer with his equally loser scammer buddy - CB. Thanks, Mr. Bell and also happy to mention that seems we are both golfers although I'm certain your handica\p is far lower than mine...:-).
Casey May 6, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.
I would like to add to my comments above by stating that in my opinion anyway, the Drabinsky trial promises to be every bit as fascinating, colorful, interesting as CB trial and I am thrilled that you will be courtside, as it were, Douglas Bell. I shall be following this latest scam with equal amounts of disbelief in the actions of a certain segment of the Canadina population, disgust at these tactics and vain hopes that somehow and somewhere Canadian justice system will measure up to the spot on USJD. Canada has been far too laxed in bringing these fraudsters to trial - about time.....*sigh*
leaf May 6, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
"
Wonderful and colorful remarks by Douglas Bell"
doug, you're so tacky...
charley May 6, 2008 at 6:55 p.m.
When Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder(or Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick?) tried creative accounting as producers they were the toast of stage and subsequently screen. Maybe Garth saw The Producers too many times and figured nobody 's going to blow the whistle on us clever witty lovable types- it's only showbiz!
dr May 6, 2008 at 6:59 p.m.
"We find the defendants incredibly guilty."
dr May 6, 2008 at 7:20 p.m.
More... and on a continuing basis...
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/columnis...
Family_Guy May 6, 2008 at 11:22 p.m.
Doug Bell - "ink-stained troglodytes" ?
Casey - I thought your kids had cut your Internet off - whats up - you sneak down to the library so you could get in a few minutes of fawning to DB?
It would seem, however high your handicap, it beats your IQ.
As to your "so far near perfec t predictions" Haw-haw, as your old pal FlimFlam would say.
Casey May 7, 2008 at 12:16 a.m.
Family_Guy May 6, 2008 at 11:22 p.m.
As Jeanne stated on another thread - " meh ". I add - " blech " and get a life, cr maybe this IS your life - sitting at a keyboard and monitor typing drivel.......go bother your shrinks. OH!. And consider this post of mine a one time and final temporary sinking to your level of creepdom - feel lucky AND privileged that I wasted 2 minutes of my time on a moron such as yourself.....don't blow yourself up performing your errr underwater demolitions - a crackpot like you is capable of anything....
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