The showbiz must go on
Show Stopper: The Theatrical Life of Garth Drabinsky
★★★ (out of 4) A documentary on the rise, fall and possible rise again of Garth Drabinsky. Written and directed by Barry Avrich. 96 minutes. Opens Sept. 21 at the Varsity.
Continuing his decade-long documentary series of larger-than-life entertainment figures, Toronto’s Barry Avrich comes up with not one but two incredible stories. They both concern the rascally yet resilient Garth Drabinsky, the Canadian movie and stage mogul who shook off childhood polio and later shook up Hollywood and Broadway with his Cineplex and Livent firms. He attracted many friends and enemies — and also legal charges for financial chicanery. He’s currently in jail for the latter, and Avrich’s even-handed film brings both bouquets and brickbats from myriad insiders and observers, who explain how Drabinsky’s skyrocket rose and sputtered.
Interviewees include actors Diahann Carroll, Chita Rivera and Elaine Stritch, director Hal Prince and various business associates and journalists, the latter including the Star’s Richard Ouzounian and Martin Knelman.
In what may be the best film yet in his doc series, Avrich discovers a surprising amount of residual love for the risk-taking Drabinsky — he’s the man who helped invent the multiplex and who sold Broadway sizzle like never before (his shows won 19 Tony Awards).
Drabinsky is described by more than one person as a tyrant (his nickname is “Garth Vader”), but also as a guy people seem to miss — they prefer shouting to boredom.
The film also leaves a distinct feeling that Drabinsky’s wild show might yet have another act.