Why did Gary seem to hold her in high esteem?

How would she respond?

The director approached Maria and in a low voice, he whispered in her ear, "Mr. Newman simply hopes your youthful generation will study hard and make Lead on a brighter future. You ought to thank him!"

Vivian and the show's cast all felt relief upon hearing this. Especially Vivian. She feared there was a big secret about Maria that she didn't know.

Now, she found the director's reasoning quite acceptable.