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The As It Happens Podcast

Because of copyright issues, music played on the AIH radio broadcast is not available on CBC.ca. This means there will be a few gaps in the program--short spaces between interviews, and longer ones where a song was played on the original broadcast.

Programs prior to April 12, 2004 are no longer available.

"Alas, poor world, what treasure hast thou lost!"

Leave it to Shakespeare to say it best. William Hutt died this morning at the age of eighty-seven. The Canadian acting legend was one of the theatre world's finest.

William Hutt will forever be remembered for his four-decade association with the Stratford Festival. He joined the company in its inaugural season in 1953, and went on to earn a reputation as one of the world's greatest Shakespearean actors. From Hamlet to King Lear to Prospero, William Hutt won acclaim for his performances in nearly every major role in the Bard's canon.

Here now is William Hutt in the role of Prospero from Shakespeare's "The Tempest", which aired on CBC's Sunday Showcase on June 21, 1998 -- for the record.

William Hutt was born in Toronto in 1920. During the Second World War, he served overseas as part of the 7th Canadian Field Ambulance. Upon his return to Canada, he spent several summers in various theatre productions. But it was on the stages of the Stratford Festival Company that William Hutt earned a worldwide reputation. And it was not just his Shakespearean performances that garnered him respect, but also his roles in myriad other theatrical masterpieces -- including Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night".

And William Hutt's genius was not restricted to the Canadian stage. He travelled the world acting and directing, with acclaimed appearances on Broadway and in London's West End. He also could be seen performing on both television and in film. In 1969, William Hutt was made a companion of the Order of Canada.

Robin Phillips was the artistic director at the Stratford Festival from 1975 to 1980. He is in Stratford, Ontario. And a warning: Robin Phillips uses some colourful language in this interview.

It's time to find out which way the wind is blowing in the Windy City.

Today in Chicago, members of the jury at the Conrad Black trial have begun their final deliberations on his guilt or innocence. They've had their final instructions from the judge. And now that they have the legal ground rules, they've retired to consider the huge volume of evidence presented in the trial -- and, eventually, to decide on a verdict.

Hugh Totten has been following the case. He's a lawyer whose practice focuses on commercial litigation. We reached him in Chicago.

It sounds like the beginning of a great book: Egyptian authorities announce they have a positive I-D on a woman who died under mysterious circumstances. She was a powerful lady, who often dressed like a man, and may have tried to cheat her stepson out of his inheritance. And when she finally died, he tried to wipe out all evidence that she ever existed. But this cold case may finally be at an end.

Egypt's chief archaeologist says that the mummified remains of Queen Hatshepsut, who died more than 2500 years ago, have been identified. The Queen was one of the most influential rulers of ancient Egypt, and one of only a few female pharoahs. The mummy was discovered in 1903, but preliminary DNA testing now has scientists in Egypt saying she's the Queen...of the Valley of the Kings.

Zahi Hawass is Egypt's chief archaeologist and the leader of the research team. We reached him at his home in Cairo.

It was the bloodiest fighting in the area since Hamas seized control, two weeks ago.

Israeli tanks and troops pushed into northern and southern Gaza, exchanging fire with Palestinian gunmen. One of the targets was the Kadima crossing between Gaza and Israel. This border has been closed since the fighting began, but aid workers are trying to get it re-opened, to allow supplies to arrive in the embattled Gaza strip.

Kevin Kennedy is the director of the Coordination and Response Division in the U.N.'s Office of Humanitarian Affairs in the Middle East. We've reached him in Jerusalem.

Last night, "As It Happens" spoke with retired Anglican priest Eric MacDonald. Mr. MacDonald had recently returned from helping his wife, Elizabeth, end her life at a clinic for assisted suicide in Zurich, after her 8-year-battle with multiple schlerosis.

Many of our listeners wrote to us to comment on Elizabeth's story, including Janice Parker-Elcich, who had these thoughts:

"As someone with MS, the interview with Elizabeth's husband truly hit home. I do not know how my MS will continue and develop, and have very often thought about the control I may end up not having over my death. This shouldn't be the case.

"Our laws are based in religious belief, of which I have none. All I ask is that people with a certain belief system recognize and appreciate the rights of those like Elizabeth to choose their life's path with autonomy and dignity. I too mourn for Eric's loss - Elizabeth was indeed a remarkable being."

We also received these messages on our Talkback line:

It happened in Canada when anti-smoking laws were introduced across the country: some bar and restaurant owners tried to avoid the rules, by proclaiming their establishments to be something other than a bar or a restaurant. One popular evasion was to turn one's tavern into a kind of "private club" -- for example, a smoker's club.

Now, as England prepares to introduce broad anti-smoking laws, one British pub owner is trying his own innovative way to get around the ban. Bob Beech is declaring that his pub will soon be converted to -- an embassy, for the remote island of Redonda.

Bob Beech is the landlord of the Wellington Arms pub in Freemantle, Southampton, England.

On this program, we have never before called Neil Sedaka a liar. But there's a first time for everything. So here goes: Mr. Sedaka, you are a liar. Breaking up is not hard to do. It's as easy as staying together. Except that, while not breaking up requires love, mutual respect and commitment, breaking up requires hate, utter self-absorption, and drugs. Case in point: British rock band The Verve.

In 1989, members of The Verve met at high school. They recorded two albums, "A Storm In Heaven" and "A Northern Soul". Then in 1995, they broke up, because of tension between lead singer Richard Ashcroft and guitarist Nick McCabe. Then, a few weeks later in 1995, they re-formed, without McCabe. Then McCabe rejoined. In 1997, they recorded the album "Urban Hymns" -- which became a surprising international hit. "Urban Hymns" spawned one huge single, "Bittersweet Symphony"; made the band's Basset-hound-faced singer into a quasi-sex symbol; and led to a partially triumphant world tour. I say "partially" because, in 1998, in the middle of the tour, McCabe decided that the road life was getting him down. So he left. And a year later, the band broke up again.

At the time, bass player Simon Jones said, "The rest of the band might work with each other in the future. If this happens it won't be as The Verve." And last year, Richard Ashcroft pooh-poohed reunion talk, saying, "You're more likely to get all four Beatles on stage."

Now, we've already established that there's a first time for everything. But here's proof that there's a third time for everything, too: yesterday, on BBC Radio 1, it was announced that The Verve was getting back together, again. They're already working on a new album, and have six U.K. shows scheduled for the late fall. According to a press release, the band cited "the joy of the music" as the reason for re-assembling. Which is nice, but clearly beside the point. Anyone familiar with the band's story knows their real reason for reuniting: to break up again.