Book Review - The Mercury (Tasmania) 3-9-05
FUN, TEARS IN ACTOR'S MEMOIRS; WARREN BREWER
The Mercury (Tasmania, Australia) 09-03-2005
FUN, TEARS IN ACTOR'S MEMOIRS
BYLINE: WARREN BREWER
EDITION: 1
SECTION: Weekend
A Man's Got to Have a HobbyBy William McInnesHodder, $32.95
THE phone rang. I managed a gurgling "Hullo''. "What's happening? Are you all right?'' was the concerned reply.
I tried, between gasps and attempts to brush aside my tears of laughter, to explain that I was immersed in yet another hilarious episode in William McInnes's memoirs A Man's Got To Have a Hobby. "Read it to me . . . read it to me'' was the response. The subsequent telephone reading now was more difficult as the visual images of McInnes's decision to replace Boso the fire-eating clown at his son's birthday party were firmly embedded in my imagination. I tried to set the scene. "You see, he didn't want to pay for the clown and thought he could do it himself and do it better.''
I read his account of his comedy of "out of control'' errors culminating in setting his hair on fire and screaming "magic words'' in his wild endeavours to put himself out . . . all to the hysterical delight of the audience. It was a joy to share such hilarity.
Most readers will have enjoyed William McInnes's many television, film and stage performances. They have earned him widespread acclaim. His memorable roles in Sea Change and My Brother Jack won him outstanding actor awards in 2000 and 2004. His gift for comedy, pathos and laconic stoicism also pervades this very special book. Typically he breaks the rules that normally apply to an autobiographical work. Yet his writing has a refreshing spontaneity and liveliness about it. The language is authentically simple and the detail provided creates vivid images. The result is an emotional and entertaining book that he dedicates to his parents, siblings, and the community of Redcliffe, Queensland where he grew up. It was a warm place in both meanings of that term and he mourns the loss for current generations of the security, fun and innocence that he had enjoyed.
His mum and dad were obviously real "characters'' in the colloquial sense, not eccentrics but close. His dad, an overzealous handyman, operated a somewhat disorganised and worn-out tool hire business from home. "Resplendent in singlet, stubbies, long white socks and joggers he bought from Woolies'' he blundered through the heavy maintenance tasks on his equipment with variable success. "Ernie, a fireman who lived up on the corner, said he used to set the clock by my father's screams.''
McInnes's mum stabilised and nurtured the lively and unpredictable household. What obviously held them all together was their deep love for each other and their good humour. Rollicking fun and joy of life pervades this entire narrative. Yet there are moments where he identifies the emergent economic and environmental impacts and voracious business practices that were changing his idyllic community.
Then there are the personal frustrations and deep sorrow he feels when his father suffers and succumbs to Alzheimer's disease and old age takes its toll of his family and friends. It's a passionate, nostalgic, yet uplifting story that will resonate with all Australian families, especially the baby boomer generation of the 1950s and '60s.
Copyright 2005 News Limited. All rights reserved.
The Mercury (Tasmania, Australia) 09-03-2005
FUN, TEARS IN ACTOR'S MEMOIRS
BYLINE: WARREN BREWER
EDITION: 1
SECTION: Weekend
A Man's Got to Have a HobbyBy William McInnesHodder, $32.95
THE phone rang. I managed a gurgling "Hullo''. "What's happening? Are you all right?'' was the concerned reply.
I tried, between gasps and attempts to brush aside my tears of laughter, to explain that I was immersed in yet another hilarious episode in William McInnes's memoirs A Man's Got To Have a Hobby. "Read it to me . . . read it to me'' was the response. The subsequent telephone reading now was more difficult as the visual images of McInnes's decision to replace Boso the fire-eating clown at his son's birthday party were firmly embedded in my imagination. I tried to set the scene. "You see, he didn't want to pay for the clown and thought he could do it himself and do it better.''
I read his account of his comedy of "out of control'' errors culminating in setting his hair on fire and screaming "magic words'' in his wild endeavours to put himself out . . . all to the hysterical delight of the audience. It was a joy to share such hilarity.
Most readers will have enjoyed William McInnes's many television, film and stage performances. They have earned him widespread acclaim. His memorable roles in Sea Change and My Brother Jack won him outstanding actor awards in 2000 and 2004. His gift for comedy, pathos and laconic stoicism also pervades this very special book. Typically he breaks the rules that normally apply to an autobiographical work. Yet his writing has a refreshing spontaneity and liveliness about it. The language is authentically simple and the detail provided creates vivid images. The result is an emotional and entertaining book that he dedicates to his parents, siblings, and the community of Redcliffe, Queensland where he grew up. It was a warm place in both meanings of that term and he mourns the loss for current generations of the security, fun and innocence that he had enjoyed.
His mum and dad were obviously real "characters'' in the colloquial sense, not eccentrics but close. His dad, an overzealous handyman, operated a somewhat disorganised and worn-out tool hire business from home. "Resplendent in singlet, stubbies, long white socks and joggers he bought from Woolies'' he blundered through the heavy maintenance tasks on his equipment with variable success. "Ernie, a fireman who lived up on the corner, said he used to set the clock by my father's screams.''
McInnes's mum stabilised and nurtured the lively and unpredictable household. What obviously held them all together was their deep love for each other and their good humour. Rollicking fun and joy of life pervades this entire narrative. Yet there are moments where he identifies the emergent economic and environmental impacts and voracious business practices that were changing his idyllic community.
Then there are the personal frustrations and deep sorrow he feels when his father suffers and succumbs to Alzheimer's disease and old age takes its toll of his family and friends. It's a passionate, nostalgic, yet uplifting story that will resonate with all Australian families, especially the baby boomer generation of the 1950s and '60s.
Copyright 2005 News Limited. All rights reserved.
posted by WilliamWatch at 7:40 PM
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