Sep 27, 2015 but ian kelly, who has adapted his own book for the stage, is an impressively goofy prince george later iii. This biography covers footes early success with a truecrime book about his. Oct 05, 2012 kellys book takes its first epigraph from peter cooks famous sketch one leg too few, about the onelegged actor who applies for the role of tarzan. Detail of an engraving by william greatbach after sir joshua reynolds.
Both the biography and the play were written by ian kelly. Mr foote s other leg was amputated on a table in a scottish castle. Oct 15, 2012 meticulously researched using newly discovered sources, mr footes other leg will captivate anyone with an interest in the early modern stage, and 18th century london in general. Buy mr footes other leg by ian kelly from waterstones today. It premiered at hampstead theatre in september 2015, in a production directed by richard eyre and featuring simon russell beale as foote. Nov 12, 2015 the hampstead theatre production of ian kellys play mr footes other leg, about one of the 18th centurys larger than life theatrical figures, gets a west end transfer and neatly ends up in the actual venue the theatre royal haymarket where foote and his band of actors once plied their trade. But ian kelly, who has adapted his own book for the stage, is an impressively goofy prince george later iii. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
I thought this was an exceptionally entertaining book about an extraordinary man. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading mr footes other leg. The comedian and impressionist samuel foote 172077 was a superstar of the georgian stage but was ruined by a media storm and two scandalous trials. In eighteenthcentury london it was customary for amputees to be buried with their sawnoff limbs, which were kept embalmed for this purpose. Ian kellys play mr footes other leg is a comedy about the life of the eighteenth century satirist, impressionist and. This is the pivot of richard eyres rumbustious production, which is crammed to overspilling with gusto and sorrow. Based on ian kelly s awardwinning biography, mr foote s other leg is a riotously funny play exploring our obsession with celebrities, through the true story of the oscar wilde of the eighteenth century. Jan 01, 2012 from sheridan to dickens to dudley moore, foote s influence continues, but mr foote s other leg is not just a tragicomic biography of this oscar wilde of the eighteenth century, it is also the story of the first media storm, the first truecrime bestseller, the first victim of celebrity culture and a joyous hop around the mad theatre of london life high and lowmore. A rumbustious celebration david jays, 27 september, 2015. Mr footes other leg by ian kelly ian kellys dazzling book, as much social history as biography, portrays 18thcentury london from. The play mr footes other leg, which opens in the west end next week starring simon russell beale, is a story celebrating the lost voices of georgian london but is also the tale of a pivotal. From sheridan to dickens to dudley moore, foote s influence continues, but mr foote s other leg is not just a tragicomic tale of this oscar wilde of the eighteenth century, it is also the story of the first media storm, the first truecrime bestseller, the first victim of celebrity culture, and a joyous hop around the mad theatre of london life high and low.
Satirist, impressionist and dangerous comedian, he has become acontinue reading. Oct 10, 2012 ian kellys mr footes other leg charts the eventful life of an 18thcentury wit the onelegged wit, samuel foote. It not only tells the bizarre story of the crossdressing 18thcentury comic actor, samuel foote, who lost a leg in a riding accident. Sep 22, 2015 mr footes other leg is playing at the hampstead theatre until 17 october. Satirist, impressionist and dangerous comedian, friend of david garrick and dr johnson, he is a bona fide celebrity in an age obsessed with. Mr footes other leg was amputated on a table in a scottish castle. Mr footes other leg at theatre royal haymarket, london book tickets online now or call 0203 567 0620 footes otherle. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg is a riotously funny play exploring our obsession with celebrities, through the true story of. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london, a 2012 biography of the 18thcentury actor samuel foote.
Simon russell beale reprises his role as 18th century entertainer samuel foote in ian kellys hit comedy mr footes other leg transferring to the west end following a soldout run at the hampstead theatre, the play charts the story of satirist and comedian foote as he becomes a celebrity in london. This is a book vibrant with facts newly revealed by energetic scholastic archaeology. Meticulously researched using newly discovered sources, mr footes other leg will captivate anyone with an interest in the early modern stage, and 18th century london in general. Oct 24, 2012 anne sebba praises a sympathetic look at the extraordinary life of an 18thcentury celebrity impressionist and drag act, mr footes other leg by ian kelly. The leg, in this case, refers to the one that he still possessed, after a riding accident in 1766 robbed him of a limb.
Its partly a play in three acts there is a dramatis personae, or helpful programme note. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg is a riotously funny play exploring our obsession with celebrities, through the true story of the oscar wilde of the eighteenth. Ian kelly, who has adapted his own book for the stage, is an impressively goofy prince george later iii. Ian kelly in georgian london no one is more famous than samuel foote. He was versatile crime writer, wit, celebrity, satirist, playwright. Henry angelo, as mrs cole in the minor by samuel foote, photo. The star has accidentally stabbed another actor in the eye with a walking stick. Directed by richard eyre and written by ian kelly, the play is billed as follows, in georgian london no one is more famous than samuel foote. However, this character actor uses his painful infirmity as a running gag for the rest of his combative life. Jan 24, 20 the comedies and tragedies that colour footes tale are set out vividly in ian kellys new work, mr footes other leg. Mr footes other leg at theatre royal haymarket, london. Mr footes other leg hampstead theatre 18 september 2015 4 stars. Ian kelly, who wrote this play, mr footes other leg, once generously donated two of the drawings that he created live on stage in the pitman painters as a charity raffle prize for a the west end whingers party. Mr footes other leg is a 2015 stage adaptation of mr footes other leg.
In january i went to see mr footes other leg, at the theatre royal haymarket. Matthew sweet on farcical scenes from the 18thcentury stage. That memory of dudley moores mr spigot, pogoing around a theatrical agents office like zebedee in a flasher mac, is a sharp reminder that the. Sep 22, 2015 wickedly waspish simon russell beale with ian kelly in mr footes other leg at hampstead theatre, london. He was born with the full set and may have been buried with both when he was interred, clandestinely and at night as it turned out, in the cloisters of westminster abbey. The weeks cultural highlights, including saoirse ronan in brooklyn, bob dylan bootlegs vol 12, simon russell beale in mr footes other leg and jonathan coes new novel number 11. May 15, 2015 mr foote s other leg by ian kelly an extract from the opening of the book foote had two legs to begin with. The book benefits from kelly being a successful actor himself, not. Comedy, tragedy and murder in georgian london kindle edition by kelly, ian. The essential gift book for any pet lover reallife tales of devoted.
Review mr footes other leg, hampstead theatre a west end. Ian kellys mr footes other leg has also been adapted into a play by the author. Based on ian kellys awardwinning biography, mr footes other leg. This biography covers footes early success with a truecrime book about his uncles murder.
Mr footes other leg, which tells this extraordinary true story, is much more. Visit the hampstead theatres website for full details. When samuel foote was buried clandestinely in the cloisters of westminster cathedral, he may or may not have been reunited with his missing leg. Footes other leg, dinner with saddam and tipping the velvet in london from left, joseph millson, simon russell beale and dervla kirwan in mr. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
In 1776 footes was the most talkedof name in the english spe. Its partly a play in three acts there is a dramatis personae, or helpful programme note on characters, partly a greek drama full of hubris and nemesis with the author as chorus, and part medical history medicine has long been a. That memory of dudley moores mr spigot, pogoing around a theatrical agents office like zebedee in a flasher mac, is a sharp reminder. Samuel foote, theatrical impresario and the subject of ian kellys book, mr footes other leg. Ian kellys play, based on his biography of the same name, doesnt lack for ideas. Mr footes other leg, which tells this extraordinary true story, is much more than a biography. Mr footes other leg by ian kelly overdrive rakuten. Mr footes other leg uses splendid samuel foote to irradiate the 18th century, in which intimate confessions spilled into the public, celebrity culture was born and exploration into human. Mr footes other leg uses splendid samuel foote to irradiate the 18th century, in.