Former Livent head honcho Garth Drabinsky was finally sentenced today to seven years in jail after being convicted of fraud and forgery last March.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, Drabinsky has been alternatively sainted and damned by various circles of Canadian theatre society.
Former Livent Executive Garth Drabinsky.
Some Canadian media and bloggers had scoffed at the notion put forward by Drabinsky’s legal team that he should receive house arrest and perhaps lecture at universities as a form of community service.
Even after his name had been dragged through the mud for over a decade, Drabinsky was able to drum up some glowing character references from no less than Martha Henry, Christopher Plummer and E.L. Doctorow.
The criminal conviction will now likely be followed by multiple civil suits, so Drabinksy’s days in courts are far from over. It probably also puts the final nail in the CBC reality show Triple Sensation which Drabinsky executive produced.
UPDATED, Thursday August 6, 2009 : Don’t expect Drabinsky and his co-convicted Myron Gottlieb to spend time behind bars anytime soon. After spending the morning in a courthouse jail cell, they were released on bail by the afternoon, pending appeals of their convictions and sentences. The appeals could take as long as a year.
Musicals in Vancouver 