The Paul Darrow That I Know...
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| Title: | The Paul Darrow That I Know... |
| Creator: | Mary Moulden |
| Date(s): | January 1989 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Blake's 7 |
| Topic: | |
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| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Paul Darrow That I Know... is an early 1989 Blake's 7 essay by Mary Moulden.
It was printed in Avon Newsletter #35.
This essay's topic was The Blake's 7 Wars.
Some Topics Discussed
- the open letter, Open Letter by "Name Withheld By Request", is referenced
- many fans feel they know Paul Darrow personally, and think that Darrow wants to know them as well
- Darrow's hard work at cons
From the Essay
Allegations have been made about B7 actors who attend conventions but do as little as possible, who no longer want to mingle with fans but aim to rip them off, who just want to make a buck. I do not personally know any actor who fits that description. I do know Paul Darrow.
I have attended three fan conventions at which Paul was a guest, between August 1986 and October 1988. At all of them, he spent hours on stage, doing panels, running auctions, being Master of Ceremonies for various events. At other times, he could frequently be found chatting informally to groups of fans and individuals - in hotel corridors, restaurants, gardens. He’d sign autographs and pose with fans for photos for as long as anyone wanted him to. He is always friendly, approachable, outgoing, and sparklingly entertaining. People like Paul; look at any group that has gathered around him, and you’ll see a lot of happiness.
Because I live in Britain, I have few chances to attend conventions. But I can and do frequently go and see Paul at various theatres around the country. This is not the place to discuss Paul’s excellence as an actor; we’re talking about interaction with fans, and at many stage doors, on many occasions, I have been part of such encounters. Remember that nobody pays Paul to stop outside theatres to talk to fans; we are a small percentage of the total audience, and he’d still have a job if we weren’t there. But he is always generous with his time, and if he is met by one fan or twenty, old friends or new acquaintances, he makes us welcome. Many people are nervous about meeting him for the first time; Paul puts them at their ease with kindness and courtesy. The ’regulars' among us are greeted cheerfully by name, and with astonishingly accurate recall of the last time/place we met. Paul remembers fans, because he takes an interest in them as people.
Last year, he tackled the most arduous stage role I have seen, as Elvis Presley in ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT? The part is enormously demanding, physically, mentally and emotionally. Paul played eight shows a week, and still found the energy to talk to us. (And, incidentally, he was entertaining fans at Space City less than twelve hours after the final show). On some occasions, I’ve seen him with only a 40-minute breathing space between two performances of LONESOME, and he’d spend ten of those minutes with fans. Is this someone who no longer cares?
One more point; Paul, with the able assistance of his wife Janet, answers his fan mail. How many actors would even consider doing that? How much time and effort must it take - how much must it cost in stationery and postage? If anyone wanted to rip the fans off, that doesn’t seem a very good way of going about it. On the other hand, for an actor who appreciates and cares about the people who admire him, it is at least understandable, if unexpected and praiseworthy.
There may be actors who behave as Annie Wortham describes [in Open Letter by "Name Withheld By Request"]. The Paul Darrow that I know isn't one of them.