Bryan Forbes

Diary – 17 October 2009

Bryan Forbes opens his diary

issue 17 October 2009

Santa Barbara

It was a long way to go for a first night: the 10-hour flight to Los Angeles, then a two-hour drive along the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara, a place fondly, but somewhat inaccurately, known as the Californian Riviera — fine beaches but, alas, no warm Mediterranean sea. It was worth the expense and effort because this was no ordinary first night; Nanette and I were there for the world premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s first opera, based on my 1963 film Séance on a Wet Afternoon. The occasion proved to be the Full Monty in reverse — a black tie, diamonds and tiaras affair in the Granada Theatre refurbished at a cost of $43 million dollars. No lack of well-heeled arts sponsors in that neck of the woods, with the principal commission sponsors for the opera a couple appropriately named Rich and Lucy Janssen. Having had to hold out a begging bowl for 27 years as President of our National Youth Theatre, I felt envious of the way wealthy Americans sustain the arts.

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