At first glance there might seem to be little in common between the late Kenneth Williams and the still very alive Stephen Fry. Sure, both are entertainers of a uniquely British kind and both are gay. But the deeper similarities, as illustrated by two readable and informative books released in recent months, are remarkable. Despite studiedly effortless comedic styles both suffered crises of confidence in their ability to entertain. Williams' self-doubt plagued his entire career, from his early days in London theatre performing plays written by the likes of Peter Cook and Joe Orton and directed by Orson Welles amongst many others. He eventually settled for the brash, camp and over the top public persona which served him well in everything from the Carry On movies, of which he was undeniably the star, to appearances as a mainstay of BBC radio comedy. When Williams shone he was stellar, when he crashed there were no survivors. And in between times he muddled through, absorbing information and anecdotes until he became one of the Brits' most beloved chat show guests. Behind the veneer he agonised over his sexuality (basically a non-practising homosexual) and became the most deeply committed companion to those he judged to be his friends and the most waspish and acid-tongued enemy of those who displeased him. Stephen Fry Fry grew up with a sense of inferiority and it never seems to have left him. Again he is a wordsmith par excellence and a compendium of urbane knowledge. He seems effortless in front of a camera and yet he is plagued by a barely-disguised self-loathing which, as he passes beyond middle age, may just be dispersing. When Fry performs well he is sublime (ref: Qi, Jeeves and Wooster, at al) and when he tanks (ref: Gosford Park) he is just plain bland. He too appears to have more or less eschewed the physical side of his homosexuality for most of his life. And yet, both flawed comics and raconteurs have come to represent something truly and magnificently British of their time, the kind of entertainers that no other nation seems to produce or take to their collective bosom quite so fondly. There is a perverse admirability in their desire to please, their lack of self-confidence counterpointed by their undoubtedly healthy egos and genuine talent. Kenneth Williams There have been attempts to shine a light on Williams before, but the recently released biography Kenneth Williams: Born Brilliant is by a long neck the best of the lot. Author Christopher Stevens has had more access to Williams' life-long diaries than anyone else, and with the passing of time more of the actor and comedian's close friends and associates have come forward to offer their perspectives to him. The result is a terrific book for anyone who wondered what was really going on behind the scenes in Williams' life, and is a more uplifting read than previous attempts. The published Williams diaries were hard work and depressing to read. But Stevens, who quotes frequently from the diaries, puts things in context and the result is more human, easier to interpret and to understand. Stevens gets under Williams' skin and into his by turns creative and self-destructive mind far better that previous editors or biographers have managed, and probably more so than even Williams himself ever could. By contrast, The Fry Chronicles is an autobiography, but a fairly self-exposing - even self-flagellating - one. It's the second in a series, this time covering Fry's life from end of high school to burgeoning fame. Along the way he rubs shoulders with some of the greats of British comedy and letters and his observations are nearly always quietly illuminating. Fry writes as he talks, or is it the other way around? Whichever, the Chronicles are a charming and mellifluous read, made all the more interesting by the broad cliff-hanger hints he drops about what will form the basis for the next book. Fame and fortune are not going to be kind, some of which we already know from news headlines of recent years. Both books are heartily recommended summer reading; ideal company for settling back into some late afternoon dappled shade with a gin and tonic or a cool cordial. Kenneth Williams: Born Brilliant is engrossing and detailed and a solid read; The Fry Chonicles is lighter, chattier and with chapters that just fly by. To keep with theme, how about rounding out these two excellent books with a third exposition of the life of a gay British wit of international renown, Neil McKenna's The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde. The Observer called it "A groundbreaking new biography of our greatest queer martyr" and if you know anything at all of Wilde and his life, talent, troubles and times this masterfully insightful book will take your breath away. - Jay Bennie Kenneth Williams: Born Brilliant Author: Christopher Stevens Publisher: John Murray, 2010 The Fry Chronicles Author: Stephen Fry Publisher: Penguin, 2010 The Secret Life of Oscar Wilde Author: Neil McKenna Publisher: Arrow Books, 2004 GayNZ.com Daily News staff - 16th January 2011
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 16th January 2011 - 1:25pm