Barrymore: A Play by WILLIAM LUCE

by William Luce

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.John Barrymore was the black sheep of America's most illustrious acting family. Celebrated for his charisma and matinee-idol looks, he was, for a while, America's most popular actor. Famous for his stage roles in Richard III and Hamlet, he also made more than fifty films. But alcoholism soon dissipated his talents, and he became known more for his Falstaffian behavior and outrageous high jinks than for his art.

Genres: Plays, Theatre

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

William Luce was a writer, primarily for the stage and television.

Reviews

[Steven Schwope · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Barrymore" by William Luce, is a dramatic one man play that is set in the 1940's.It is the spring of 1942, and John Barrymore, who was once America’s most popular actor, is rehearsing a revival of his Broadway triumph as Richard III on a rented run down stage with his prompter/stage manager. As Barrymore half-heartedly and inaccurately runs through his lines with his prompter, he starts to reminisce about old friends, lovers, family and how great his life used to be. It is apparent that his alcoholism has taken a major toll on his talent, memory, and body. As the play wages on, Barrymore tries to breath fresh life into a career that was damaged by his ongoing struggles with personal life and being an alcoholic. A powerful climax occurs at the end of the play and Barrymore becomes a different more vulnerable man, who realizes how close to death he is.I really like this book, and recommend it to anybody looking for insight into John Barrymore's mind. I loved it because it felt really real, and it was down to earth, and provided a new light to see celebrities in.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting audiobook to listen to, but the overall effect of it was depressing (and, yet, informative!).