Orton’s diaries were outrageous, almost to the point of being pornographic, filled with gossip and tittle-tattle that revealed the truth about the man known for provocative writing. Toby is not only Brian’s nemesis in terms of poetry, he also has his eye on Liz, a woman who Brian has a growing affection for.

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It has moving moments and good humour but the core of the play, Orton and Haliwell’s relationship, is poorly written and you can sense that it is a rather ‘safe’ director’s debut. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Orton, with the eye of a triple outsider (gay, working class and provincial) saw the absurdity in a London that wasn't quite swinging and skewered it. And yet I don’t think it’s an outstanding book, let alone, as the publisher’s blurb claims, “the most original novel you will read this or any year”. Sophie acquires a dynamic partner, the paragon of all virtues, a man whose success does not stop him from doing good deeds and who inspires Brian’s son with motivational quotes.Despite not having any social media accounts and not being into twitter or tweeter or twatter, the synopsis really appealed to me. This was not during hostilities, as it turns out, but falling off a cliff while attempting to photograph a colony of rockhopper penguins.

Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston | The National Review: Diary of a Somebody by Brian Bilston | The National

So when Salt mysteriously vanishes, Brian comes under suspicion, not least from Mrs McNulty, his spiritualist neighbour and fan of Countdown (“She claims that amidst the vowels and consonants there are hidden messages from ‘the other side’. His arch rival, the pretentious Toby Salt, has had a collection of poetry published, entitled This Bridge No Hands Shall Cleave.He has appeared many times over the years on BBC Radio 4 – among other things as chairman of The Travelling Show, presenter of Something to Declare, Points of Departure and Plain Tales from the Rhododendrons, and panellist on Quote Unquote. American theatre critic John Lahr dramatized the diaries in 1989, and the result is Diary of a Somebody which has now opened as the second production at the new Seven Dials Playhouse in London. As the title suggests, there is also more than a touch of Pooter in the mix too, which can never be a bad thing. Orton remains a compelling central character, George Kemp capturing his chutzpah, his humour, his confidence that never grew to curdle into arrogance.