TIM ROBBINS

The Actors' Gang

Culver City, CA

December 10, 2016

Photo credit: Tim Robbins

It was a cold December evening and I was with some friends at The Actors’ Gang experimental theater in Culver City. We were feeling festive and had come to this hip 99-seat playhouse to watch a kids' holiday performance.

To open the show, we were introduced to its primary players; these included several children and, to my surprise, “our very own Tim Robbins.” I suppose I could’ve guessed he’d be there had I done any research. He formed this group with other actors in 1981 and now writes, directs, performs in, and attends many of the shows. 

Several audience members, who I can only imagine were relatives of the wee actors, watched the play through the viewing window of their smartphones. Afterward, these proud videographers crowded the stage to congratulate their offspring and take pictures with Mr. Robbins. It was cute to watch as he high-fived each kid after their photo was taken together. Like Andy Dufresne, Mr. Robbins' character in the esteemed movie The Shawshank Redemption, he had a quiet way about him and he floated through the crowd enjoying the little stars as they learned to shine.

He’s a tall drink of water that one. We smiled at each other. Then a couple of men approached who wanted to sing his praises. They were very impressed with his acting career and complimented him up and down. As I was. Silently. In my own way. 

Once they were finished talking, I approached him. He seemed somewhat guarded, possibly because I wasn’t accompanied by a youngster, but I pitched my idea anyway. He smiled, took my camera, and snapped a quick photo. I didn’t want to take any more of his time away from his enthusiastic fans, so I thanked him and we parted ways. 

It felt somewhat like a missed opportunity to connect with a nice guy, but that could have just been my wishful thinking—a pipe dream of the two of us south of the border, fixing up a worthless old boat, on a postcard-ready beach in Zihuatanejo.

Thanks again, Tim, for helping me with my project. And an even bigger thanks for making a difference in the lives of these blissful kids.