A KIND OF LOVING
When film director John Schlesinger died in 2003, at his bedside was his long-time
companion, the film, dance and theatre photographer Michael Childers. They
were together 38 years. As Hollywood marriages go, it has to be one of the
most enduring.
When the Aids pandemic started to cut a swathe through Hollywood in 1986,
Schlesinger tested negative for HIV, but Childers was positive. Fortunately,
with combination therapy and a change in lifestyle, Childers has continued
to work as a photographer. Born in North Carolina, the son of a colonel in
the Marine Corps, Childers led a rather nomadic existence.
As a child his bedroom walls were plastered with Hollywood stars, so it was
no surprise when he headed for the bright lights of California. So soon after
their first meeting, it became clear to both that there was a mutual attraction
deepening into love; that they were becoming a couple.
Unlike Schlesinger's previous relationships, where the object of his affections
had often proved to be bisexual, in the closet, or both, Childers was already
secure in his identity as a gay man. Midnight Cowboy would be the first of
many films Childers would be involved with. Throughout their relationship,
however, they strived to maintain their own identity as artists, aware that
Childers, the younger man, could be perceived as Mrs Schlesinger.
A gifted photographer in his own right, Childers' work has graced over 200
magazine covers, including both English and Italian Vogue.
Since his diagnosis, Childers has been involved in fundraising events for
Aids service organisations. But in the early days of the crisis it put a huge
strain on their relationship.
Their separation was neither official nor permanent, but as Childers once
commented, they were always “better together” and “never
as good as when we were apart”.
With the Aids crisis so close to home, their priorities changed. Schlesinger
took no fee for directing an Aids awareness film featuring Bette Midler for
Project Angel Food. And, as his health stabilised, Childers too became involved
in raising funds for the cause, raising over a million dollars in 1991.
Schlesinger's own health began to fail in 2000 and Childers was now able to
return the favour and look after his partner. Schlesinger died in Palm Springs
in 2003 and his body was cremated in England with his ashes interred beside
his parents. A small vial of ashes was kept by Childers to be buried with
him. Childers has maintained good health. His most recent book, Icons and
Legends: The Photography of Michael Childers, a major retrospective of his
work, with an introduction by British artist David Hockney, was published
in 2004.
John Schlesinger had planned to write his autobiography but due to his stroke
in 2001, he was unable to do so. William J Mann has written the authorised
biography.
Howard Watson
Edge of Midnight: The Life of John Schlesinger, Hutchinson William J Mann
ISBN: 0091794897 price £17.50
Icons and Legends: The Photography of Michael Childers: University of Washington
Press ISBN: 0295983965 price £18.95
Both available from Amazon.co.uk
OPERA UP CLOSE
What do you get if you cross a 65 year old French opera with one of London’s
leading fringe venues? The answer can be found at Earls Court’s Finborough
Theatre where Opera Up Close, a company specialising in small scale opera,
presents the British premiere of Darius Milhaud’s Médee. Directed
by Positive Nation design assistant, Russell Plows, the pacey, hour-long opera
continues the tragic story of Jason and Medea following their abduction of
the Golden Fleece. Cramming a small orchestra, five singers and an audience
of 50 into the Finborough certainly ought to make for a vivid, immediate experience,
and promises to recreate the “raw energy” (Evening Standard) of
the company’s 2003 Kaiser of Atlantis. Mixing references from American
politics and contemporary Japanese horror, the production is a treat for opera
virgins and seasoned patrons alike. Performances in French with English captions
on the 29/30 May, 5/6/12/13 June at the Finborough Theatre - info & online
booking at www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk
- Tickets £12/£9 conc.
