It’s fifty years since I read The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. The book endures as a modern classic in the vein of Alice In Wonderland, Gulliver’s Travels, and the Odyssey by Homer.

A few years back, I wanted to re-adapt the stage play of The Phantom Tollbooth into a Story Theater format. A form developed by Paul Sills, the son of my teacher and mentor Viola Spolin. There was already an adaptation out there, but it was not as satisfying as I knew it could be given a different treatment. So I contacted Samuel French and they put me in touch with Mr. Juster’s lawyer to whom I wrote a letter explaining the need for a new version and my qualifications for writing it.

Imagine my surprise one Sunday morning, while watching the TV program Sunday Morning, in bed with my wife, when the phone rang. “Gary Schwartz? Norton Juster here.”

I sat bolt upright and muted the TV.

“Mr. Juster. What an honor. What a surprise.”

It was as if Lewis Carrol or Johnathan Swift called. This legendary writer who I admired since childhood dialed my number and here I am in my underwear, sitting at attention speaking to the man himself.

“My attorney tells me you want to adapt my book into a play?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Why?”

I explained that much of the nuance and charm was missing from the stage adaptation that could be easily added with this technique of narrating the action by the actors who are also speaking the dialogue. I gave him the history of Second City and Viola Spolin and Paul Sills and he was very attentive. We had a great conversation about how Phantom Tollbooth has been a movie, an animation and soon-to-be, an opera. But he also said, on the advice of his attorney, one stage adaptation is all they want. Another would confuse things.

I accepted his explanation and said thank you and hung up the phone. I had spoken to Norton Juster.

Recently, I finished my novel The King of Average an homage to the wordplay Norton Juster so famously used and just because, I decided to send him a copy with a fan letter, letting him know his impact on me and my growing up years.

I got an email back within a week!

Dear Mr. Schwartz:
I have received the book and the note you sent me, but unfortunately I’m afraid I cannot offer any assistance.
I have had a series of difficult health problems this past year and am unable to take on any additional projects or concerns. 
I wish you the best of luck with the book and your future.
It is a long, hard road I know, but you sound dedicated and determined.  The rest is just hard work and luck.

Thank you for the book and your kind words.

My best to you.
Norton Juster

It’s thanks enough that he has a copy of my book and I his email. I will heed his advice and persevere.