Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Actor and playwright best known for playing Oscar Wilde on stage.
On the island
Eight records
The castaway mentions being taken to 'Chuchin Chow' by his uncle. Given the context of a Desert Island Discs interview in the early days of the show, this is almost certainly the musical 'Chu Chin Chow' (1916). I have corrected the spelling to the canonical title. No specific artist or composer is given in the transcript, so I leave them as null.
The keepsakes
The book
Robert Morley (based on transcript — 'The one I wrote, yes. So that brought you your first success.' — but I cannot identify the specific title; leave as given)
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:34Did you see a lot of theatre as a child?
My uncle used to take me to Chuchin Chow, I don't quite know why. And my father used to take me to the Cooptimists, and I used to go to the Pantomime on the Pier at Brighton. But I don’t think I did go to the theatre a lot when I was a child.
Presenter asks
0:43Was there any one particular moment when it struck you that you must spend your life in the theatre?
Ah, yes, when I stopped being a child at the age of twelve, or it may have been thirteen. I managed to get into my public school. This was considered by the headmaster a very great achievement, I think because he’d done most of the common entrance paper himself, and he gave the whole school a half holiday. And I took it that I was then free to do anything. … I went to see Esme Percy play in Folkestone, The Doctor’s Dilemma, and I always remember that because it was an empty theatre, and Mr. Esme Percy was pure magic and it was the most wonderful experience I ever had in the theatre and I knew from that moment that there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more …
Presenter asks
2:06Was work fairly regular in those first days?
Oh yes, those were healthy in days for actors. And um we used to tour and tour and tour and tour at four, five and six pounds a week and live like princes.
The luxury
Not recorded.
Presenter asks
2:59Was there any one event or one production that you feel was the turning point in your career?
Well, I wrote a play, you see, and as soon as you wrote a play, they all think you can do something else. And then I was given large parts in the theatre. Once you get a large part in the theatre, you see … Life is much easier. The difficulty is that if you have small parts you can’t really impress the public. But if they’re faced with you for the whole evening, then they discover, reluctantly but gradually, facets of your performance and characterisation which they like and grow accustomed to and they’re stuck with you and they have to like you …
Presenter asks
5:37You could, if you wish, devote yourself to the comparatively easy money of films, but you spend quite a large part of your time in the theatre.
I don’t think I could devote myself. … I do the theatre because I am primarily, if that’s the right word, I suppose a stage actor. I’m not really a film actor, but I spive around in the films and enjoy myself very much.
Presenter asks
7:57Have you any particular big ambition that hasn’t yet been fulfilled?
Uh I’ve never had very many ambitions, funnily enough. I don’t know why. … I don’t think I have anything. I’ve put a lot of goods in the shop window, and they’ve all been bought. I don’t know whether there’s much more in the shop. Hope so, of course.
Presenter asks
9:32What is the fascination that racing has for you? Are you a gambler?
I’m a punter. The difference being a punter is a man who thinks he can afford and a gambler is a one who knows he can’t. But I always think I can afford to lose a little and indeed I do. I love racing. … I’ve had six or seven [horses], I think. And I’ve got one now called Just Ennis, who’s just beginning his career. They’re like children, but of course more expensive.
“I was born at a place called Semley in Wiltshire, and named after a sheepdog. … I was called Bob, after the sheepdog. Very suitable.”
“I went to see Esme Percy play in Folkestone, The Doctor’s Dilemma, and I always remember that because it was an empty theatre, and Mr. Esme Percy was pure magic and it was the most wonderful experience I ever had in the theatre and I knew from that moment that there was nothing in the world I wanted to do more …”
“I played a pirate in Treasure Island. And misses Kerr Belew said at the dress rehearsal, Move the fat boy off the stage, he spoils the picture And I really, you know, it was very naughty of her, but probably true at the time.”
“I suppose when one get to my age, uh I’m not driven on by any great desire to assert myself, and … It happens that I haven’t had anything very much to say.”
“I’m a punter. The difference being a punter is a man who thinks he can afford and a gambler is a one who knows he can’t.”