A Tony Story

BY TOM DIVAN
During the Winter Intersession of 70-71 at Tufts, I directed Shaw's Heartbreak House with an extraordinary cast that included Mr. Anthony Cornish in what was to be his last acting performance. I had arrived in Medford at the beginning of the summer of 1970 to join the Summer Theatre acting troupe [including Charlie Carusi, Elin Diamond, Stuart White and Howard Ashman] and to begin work on my master’s. I was astonished at the caliber of my co-workers and fellow students, but equally underwhelmed by most of the faculty.

What did that matter when there was Tony? He was faculty enough. And the joy with which he guided us through the Double Dealer, trying to instill some sense of period style. Restoration comedy was not selling well, so Tony arranged for us to spend a day in costume at the Museum of Fine Arts. They had no place for us to change, so we had to drive there already dressed. One lovely German couple asked me if this were my native costume. It didn’t help ticket sales.

Tony was an amazing conjunction of intimidation that convinced you he knew absolutely everything worth knowing, and eye-twinkle plus beard-tug that let you know he probably knew even more. And yet he showed up to audition for Heartbreak House. For me, a new graduate student with no previous directing experience at Tufts. Perhaps he just wanted to protect Mr. Shaw’s reputation? I cannot imagine any other faculty member of that era who would have risked such indignity.

That Tony would subject himself to being directed by a student speaks worlds. He was fearless and oblivious to any personal risk he might suffer at my hands. What he must have endured as I tried to pretend I had anything at all to offer him. And thank goodness for Linda [they were spending the year in Medford with Simon] who gently sent word through Tony that we were mispronouncing “papa!”

But he did subject himself. He didn’t take over; he didn’t overwhelm me with advice. He helped me find my way by giving me the best performance he was capable of. In the process, Tony taught me worlds about acting, and directing and teaching.

I’ve been remiss about keeping in touch with friends. I only saw Tony once in the 35 years since Heartbreak House. That’s when he told me that Hector Hushabye had been his last acting role. “No fault of yours,” he hastened to add! Oh, I hope not. But how I regret those years not seeing him or talking with him. There was so much more I had to learn and so much more he had to teach.