a gap in nature

when a chap has died after a long life, most of it spent buzzing along at the top of his professional tree, there really isn't anything to repine about. it's what most people would probably want for themselves: a long and illustrious innings and all that rot. so there's no reason to blub about the passing of the great english stage actor, sir paul scofield. but his death does leave a gap in the theatre, if not a "gap in nature" (to borrow a resonant phrase from "antony & cleopatra").

all the great names have gone out: ralph richardson, john gielgud, alec guinness, laurence olivier, richard burton, ian richardson, paul scofield. only ian mckellan is left. the english stage has had a twilight of the gods. don't expect to see such abundant talent again.

though thankfully there is still scofield's terrific performance as the elder brothers in the bbc dramatisation of "martin chuzzlewit". watched it again the other night. splendid stuff.