"British Theatre's antic visionary" (Guardian) "We're doing three David Hare plays all on one day, you see and we're calling that a trilogy - The Hare Trilogy - So if we had yours on, it would seem like trilogies were in the wind." (Richard Eyre to Ken Campbell)
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By C. Bendle
Format:Paperback
Each of this trilogy of autobiographical tales is a convoluted knot of shaggy dog stories. Campbell hilariously relates a collection of profound and mundane memories from his life woven together with a thread of philosophical enquiry.
Campbell has a Fortean interest in unusual occurrences, but also an absurdist awareness of the humour in everyday events. The plots of these tales are too convoluted to summarise but they take in the story of Campbell setting up an “office in the marshes” – a desk in the open air near the river Lea; accidental death via self trepanning, accidental transvestitism; an explanation of the importance of Prince Philip and Ken Dodd to Tana Islanders in the Pacific; and Ken Dodd jokes in Pidgin English. Along the way there is a cautionary tale about confusing snuff with dried dog dirt.
The tone of these stories is of a close friend confiding their adventures over a pint of beer, and include a mixture of truth and exaggeration. Essentially they are about living life to the full by taking a keen interest in the little mysteries that pass by us every day. Joyful and life affirming!
By R. J. Farrer
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this book on the strength of C. Bendle's review here. I was not disappointed.
Everything Bendle says is true so I'll not reiterate. I'll just add that Ken's reminiscences in `Pigspurt' (pp115-119) about acting as Inspector Bickford in the third act of Monte Doyle's "Signpost to Murder", with seasoned `thesp' Ted Webster, made me laugh so uncontrollably and for so long I had to go for a walk and take deep breaths.
Ken was an anarchic genius, he must have been the best of friends and a tenacious and terrible enemy, as Basil Fawlty found in the "Anniversary" episode of Fawlty Towers (in which Ken played the irritating and persistently sceptical `Roger'). Ken's arrival on stage always meant that the show had been completely stolen by whatever character he was inhabiting.
Ken trained at RADA but had a chit from the director which excused him from having to do posh-sounding Shakespearian leads (in the Simon Callow style). He retained a dislike of what he would always dismiss as classical "dog" acting. He was a brilliant ventriloquist and inspired many others to take up the art. The wonderful Nina Conti was a friend and student of Ken's.
You can glimpse the energy and absurdity of KC by reading this book or watching DIY Séance on Youtube.
Everything Bendle says is true so I'll not reiterate. I'll just add that Ken's reminiscences in `Pigspurt' (pp115-119) about acting as Inspector Bickford in the third act of Monte Doyle's "Signpost to Murder", with seasoned `thesp' Ted Webster, made me laugh so uncontrollably and for so long I had to go for a walk and take deep breaths.
Ken was an anarchic genius, he must have been the best of friends and a tenacious and terrible enemy, as Basil Fawlty found in the "Anniversary" episode of Fawlty Towers (in which Ken played the irritating and persistently sceptical `Roger'). Ken's arrival on stage always meant that the show had been completely stolen by whatever character he was inhabiting.
Ken trained at RADA but had a chit from the director which excused him from having to do posh-sounding Shakespearian leads (in the Simon Callow style). He retained a dislike of what he would always dismiss as classical "dog" acting. He was a brilliant ventriloquist and inspired many others to take up the art. The wonderful Nina Conti was a friend and student of Ken's.
You can glimpse the energy and absurdity of KC by reading this book or watching DIY Séance on Youtube.
By Tim
Format:Paperback
Ken Campbell died earlier this year, leaving the world of performance art one genius lighter. This trilogy of scripts cannot do justice to stage performances that left attendees/witnesses curious and open-mouthed, not wanting to laugh or applaud for fear of losing track of a tenuous, multi-streamered 'plot'. There was always time to laugh on the bus home. For those who did see these three epic monologues spouted like Feste on ecstasy, these written versions are welcome say-aaahhh reminders. For those who did not, make of them what you will.
Listmania!
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