By: John Gray
Another potential motive Drabinsky had for participating in accounting irregularities was an attempt to escape a “crushing personal debt,” the crown alleges. That motive comes from that letter Drabinsky wrote to Karen Poppell, his “mistress,” uh, I mean friend, or whatever.
Defence lawyers dismiss the letter as irrelevant and urge the judge to completely disregard it. “The letter is not dated. There is no evidence whatsoever that this document was ever sent,” Greenspan argues. “The letter is irrelevant and unstrustworthy.”
But there is one more motive in the letter that neither the Crown, nore the defence discuss. In the letter Drabinsky tells Poppell that he should have told her that he was not going to be able to meet a March 31st “deadline” set – apparently for Drabinsky to leave his wife. “I never wanted to admit weakness to you or dilute your confidence in me,” Drabinsky writes.
Having to admit that Livent was losing money – and lots of it – would have “diluted the confidence” of investors, creditors, critics and others in the theatre and financial communities. Having to admit that the Drabinsky vision of a successful and glamourous theatre company that raked in enough money to pay for private jets, gala parties and the best live theatre productions ever performed would have been humiliating, wouldn’t it?
One Response to “ Drabinsky Final Argument – 19: Drabinsky’s “Mistress” Part 3 ”
…its funny that no one has taken the time to contact, interview or depose either Karen Poppell or Pearl Drabinsky. Especially since one was with him for over 15 years and the other for 10. One he married and left, which cost him millions and the other refused to marry him which saved him millions. She completed the tasks he had started, gave him new ideas when he ran dry, recognized talent and pushed him to see it when he couldn’t, buffered those around him from his wrath, stuck by him when he fell, worked to help support him and his kids, paid the mortgage when he couldn’t, even lent him money that has never been repaid, staying by him until he was back on his feet and ultimately left him after trying to leave too many times in the past… taking only some suitcases, what she had on at the time, and her pride – which cost her millions and most importantly her beloved cats. He still has her paintings, journals, music, pictures, clothes, furntiture… one of the cats recently died. That ten year period of her life has been locked away in his Spadina mansion (that she chose) or Muskoka beach house or some other secret place – the treasures likely passed on to someone else as his gifts… the rest hidden away from view…such a story which hasn’t been told… there was so much more than just a “mistress” tag …
By Mr. Blair on Dec 30, 2008