David French

This week playwright and poet David Freeman died. He was a writer of power and passion whose work opened our eyes to the world in a new way.

Freeman’s groundbreaking and highly theatrical play Creeps was the first play produced at the fledgling Tarragon Theatre in 1971. Creeps paints a frank and courageous portrait of a group of disabled people struggling to find meaning in a society that places little value on their lives. Since Freeman was born with cerebral palsy, he knew his subject. He also was fortunate to have placed his play in the hands of a great director (Bill Glassco) and a stellar cast that included a young John Candy. But it was the power of the writing that made Creeps such an important event in Canadian theatre history.

David French used to tell the story of how he met Bill Glassco and began his long association with Bill and the Tarragon. It’s a long story, but it starts with Creeps. David’s sister-in-law, Marlene Aarons, had seen the play, and told David that he should go. David was reluctant, but Marlene insisted. David was so impressed with the show that he immediately knew that he wanted whoever had programmed and directed Creeps to direct his own work. He went to the box office and asked for the director’s phone number. Which was given to him on the spot! David phoned Bill Glassco and made an appointment to see him.

I found a photo of the two Davids along with Michel Tremblay in the closet a few months ago, and after David Freeman died, I posted it on Facebook. It was picked up by CBC and several other news outlets, but I will repost it below. I’d also like to share a beautiful poem that David Freeman sent to me after my David died in 2010. It serves as a tribute to them both.

FOR DAVID FRENCH (1939-2010)

The day seized
In staccato rhythm
Of typewriter keys
As enraptured youth
Captured truth.

We could do no wrong
On Tarragon
Stage
Where actors voiced
Our rage.

The world was our oyster:
We were the pearls.
The headiness made our heads
Swirl.

The center of attention,
Hardly a day went by
When our names
Weren’t mentioned.

Fame flees rapidly
And doesn’t defy
Gravity.
What goes up
Must come down
Including
Toasts of the town.

The spotlight that warms
Also burns.
In theater, fortunes
Turn
On a dime.
Time
Goes fast.
Fashions pass.

But
Works of passion
Leave lasting
Impressions.
Dispersed
Seeds to change
The universe,
However small,
Are better than
No seeds at all .

We were young Turks
Back then
And now
That you’re gone,
Your words, your work
Will live on.