"We are born astride a grave - WaynesWorldStage.com

met at the Wayne University Theatre. We hadbeen going together for several years and I hadalways thought that we would get married.Ondine was the last production at World Stagebefore the merger with The Vanguard Playhouse.I cast Mary Lou in the leading role. In the leadingmale role I cast a New York actor, Chuck Olsen.In addition to being a fine actor, Chuck was anextremely handsome young man. He was marriedand his wife was an airline stewardess.Chuck, Mary Lou and I became a teamduring the after-show routine, going to bars andparties together. We always had a good timetogether but I often felt that Chuck was getting inthe way of my love life. But he was alone and hiswife was traveling about the world. The show ranfor about two months, after which Mary Loumoved to New York. Chuck stayed in Detroit andworked with me on opening the VanguardPlayhouse. He received a telegram informing himthat his wife may have been killed in a planecrash. At that time airlines did not hire marriedwomen. Chuck's wife had lied and said that shewas single. He had to fly to Ireland and identifythe body. From there, he returned to New York.During the next few months, I traveled toNew York many times for casting and othertheatre-related business. Each time I would staywith Mary Lou at her apartment. On one visit I68