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AIDS benefit Quite a party
Toronto Star
Feb 18, 1991
Colm Wilkinson, Toronto’s Phantom, came onstage in a bathrobe, discreetly put on his underwear, dressed and laid down some roof-raising rock n’ roll.
Producer and theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky, baton in hand, gently conducted the show’s cast in "O Canada."
Yesterday afternoon’s near-three-hour variety show benefit for AIDS at the Pantages Theatre was a real party.
Everyone in the Phantom cast and orchestra took their turn shaking loose: numbers from Gilbert and Sullivan, some wailing blues, some high-stepping dancing, and Moe Koffman with his "Swinging Shepherd Blues," all included.
About 750 people paid $25 each, and with some contributing more, about $20,000 was raised for the Actors Fund of Canada and its work helping those in the theatre community with AIDS. Everyone connected with The Phantom of The Opera donated their services free: members of Canadian Actors Equity, the Toronto Musicians Association, IATSE stagehands, ushers and those in the box office.
The audience cheered repeatedly and jumped to their feet many times, most for Wilkinson’s medley of two songs
by pop group U2 and, backed by Koffman, his hip-wiggling rendition of "Shake, Rattle and Roll."
What a happy way to spend an afternoon. What a generous way to raise money for such a worthwhile cause.
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