Actor Ron Moody has enthralled generations with his masterly performance as Fagin in both the stage & film versions of Oliver!
- one of the great classics of British theatre & cinema. Planning to become an academic he first took to the boards when a student at the London School of Economics
- writing & performing in student revues. But his comedic talent & ability to create a string of eccentric & original characters quickly caught the attention of West End producers who recognised his very special skills. Invited to appear & later star in a string of highly successful revues the course of his life was changed for ever. In this highly original & idiosyncratic memoir he looks back on those early days describing in frank & fascinating detail the twists & turns of his career the people he met & worked with & the performances that led up to Oliver!. In charting the course of his early career Ron casts an ever-analytical eye over his many shows giving piercing insights into the hard work & attention to detail involved in creating characters the role of anarchy & clowning in his performances & the nature of comedy itself. He also reveals the conflicts & clashes that can occur
- both on & off stage
- even in a show as successful as Oliver! the tensions themselves often stimulating the actors to compete & create something memorable
- as happened with Oliver! & as he recalls in this truly original book.