Fat Chance [Paperback]

Simon Gray (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1996

Playwright Simon Gray's account of Stephen Fry's walk-out and disappearance following criticism of his performance in Gray's "Cell Mates".

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Simon Gray was born in England in 1936 and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is the author of over 30 plays, including Butley (1971), Otherwise Engaged (1975), Quatermaine's Terms (1981), The Common Pursuit (1984), Cell Mates (1995) and Japes (2000) and has published several volumes of diaries and books about the theatre, including The Smoking Diaries published by Granta. He lives in London. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber; First Edition edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571177921
• ISBN-13: 978-0571177929
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,878,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent. Fascinating. Enjoyable., January 24, 1999

By 

M. Palmer "QFLW" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fat Chance (Paperback)

I read the book because I've been a Stephen Fry fan for years and had not heard about the event the book describes. Gray writes clearly and beautifully, brings you with him into the theatre world as he tells his side of the story, with some (understandable) frustration but without recrimination. I intend to read more of Gray's work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Compelling Chronicle, January 12, 2011

By 

Ally - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fat Chance (Paperback)

I picked this book up as a fan of Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall who was curious to learn about the Cell Mates incident. Simon Gray's book is a well written and informative look at the process of play writing and theatre production. Although I chose this book to learn more about Stephen Fry, I was surprised at the kind of insight given by Gray about Fry and all the actors involved in the production. This is especially true in the case of Mayall, someone largely forgotten in the wake of the play's failure and is portrayed as vastly different than he appears to his fans. He is according to Gray highly emotional and uncomfortable being himself which is a stark contrast to his onscreen and onstage persona. i recommend this to anyone interested in the Cell Mates disaster, Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall.