Flashback (Paperback)

by David Barry (Author)
Key Phrases: Vivien Leigh, Sir Laurence, Dave King (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
David Barry's autobiography spans almost five decades of theatre, film and television experience. As a 14 year old he toured Europe with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in one of the most prestigious post-war theatre tours. Vivien Leigh took a shine to him and he saw both sides of her close up. One minute she was sweetness and light, and the next she became a screaming harridan as she publicly berated Sir Laurence. In his early twenties, he starred as Frankie Abbott in the hit television sitcoms Please, Sir! and Fenn Street Gang, and those days are recounted with great humour. Hilarious events unfold as he describes working with dodgy producers and touring with argumentative actors. His is a story that covers everything from the pitfalls of working in live television to performing with hard drinking actors. 'Imagine yourself travelling - as a member of the company - with a train-load of top stars to the great cities of Europe.' Daily Express

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Authors OnLine Ltd. (March 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755202260
• ISBN-13: 978-0755202263
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,444,739 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, May 31, 2006

By	K. Trout "Kaye" (Pagosa Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Flashback
An actor's life
by David Barry
Authors OnLine Ltd
19 The Cinques, Gamlingay, Sandy
Bedfordshire, SG19 3NU, England
Genre: Autobiography
[...]

Are you interested in the real life stories of real live actors? If you are and are particularly interested in British actors, you'll certainly enjoy David's story. It is a book about significant events and people in his acting career of almost fifty years including theatre, film and television.

The basic format of this autobiography is somewhat of a journal which he started in 1998 when he agreed to be in the Bill Kenwright production of Funny Money which toured for 16 weeks and is described as "The Tour from Hell." Scattered throughout this journal are flashbacks about his childhood experiences while touring Europe in the play Titus Andronicus with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. David was fourteen at the time, and it was the summer of 1957 when Peter Brook's bloody production had people fainting in their seats.

David starred as Frankie Abbott in the hit television sitcoms Please, Sir! and Fenn Street Gang in his early twenties. If I were a theatre goer and more familiar with British entertainment, I'm sure this book would have been more meaningful to me. As I am familiar with Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, I found the flashbacks about the group's tour through Europe to be of particular interest.

David Barry is a very talented man and his writing is a natural extension of his talents. The autobiography is well-written, entertaining and I'm certain will appeal to his fans. I do hope he will write another book with more personal information about himself-his talents, how he studied and prepared, his goals, his family, the problems and realities of living an actor's life, and how one finds the faith that there will be another play . . . when the tour has finished.

In addition to Flashback, the author has written Each Man Kills. Thank you, David, for sharing part of your life with us.

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