They became exceptionally close during ALNM. Hunter was in from the beginning, and then Stritch came in to replace Angela. He always did his best to help her (she struggled mightily with lines, if you recall) and he treated her with the respect she deserved. And she became a mentor to him, and if you were his age, just starting a Broadway career, could you have a better friend or mentor than Elaine Stritch?
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.