What Bloody Man is That (Signed) - Hardcover

Brett, Simon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0575040033 ISBN 13: 9780575040038

Publisher: Gollancz, 1987

Synopsis

Text for Author Simon Brett is a former radio and television comedy producer, who has been writing full-time for more than twenty years. Creator of the Charles Parks, Mrs. Pargeter and Feathering series of mysteries, his psychological thriller, A Shock to the System was filmed, starring Michael Caine. Married, with three children, he lives in an Agatha Christie-style village in West Sussex, England. Text for Book Charles Paris is on his way up again, career-wise. No longer resting and no longer just a corpse in a cupboard, he blossoms in the play dreaded by superstitious theatre folk, who will not even speak its the Scottish play Macbeth. Its only in the provincial rep, but you have to start (or re-start) somewhere. And his agent has promised that though whats offered is not much of a part, other good parts are in the offing. By which perhaps is not meant precisely what that Charles finds himself doubling almost every role in the play that isnt held by the three principals. And as for the principals, they could hardly be more ill-sorted. Macbeth is played by George Birkitt, the TV game-show personality whom we met in Dead Giveaway. Lady Macbeth comes straight from an intense young woman with Method in her madness. And Duncan is that notorious old ham, Warnock Belvedere, who feels that hes in the tradition of great acto-managers. With such a cast, sparks are bound to fly. Its not long before death strikes in the night. And Charles Paris takes on the role of private eyeText for Review "Stylish and literate fun." The Times Text for Review "What counts in this series is Brett's marvelous comedic vision hilariously funny and sadly true of the wonderful world of showbusiness." The San Diego Union

About this title

About the Author

Simon Brett is a former radio and television comedy producer, who has been writing full-time for more than twenty years. Creator of the Charles Paris, Mrs. Pargeter and Fethering series of mysteries, his psychological thriller, "A Shock to the System" was filmed, starring Michael Caine. Married, with three children, he lives in an Agatha Christie-style village in West Sussex, England.

From Publishers Weekly

After tedious months of "resting," Brett's endearing actor-sleuth Charlie Paris gladly accepts the offer to play multi-characters in a very economical Macbeth production. At the bar in the Pinero Theatre, in the English town of Warminster, Paris meets producer Gavin Scholes and others in the company. One is Warnock Belvedere, assigned the role of Duncan; he is murdered during rehearsals, to no one's regret. A vicious man, Warnock had offended barman Norman Phipps, his wife Sandra and the members of the cast. Since Charlie is the sole suspect, he turns detective to clear himself and nail the killer. As in all the series entries, this is a charmer enhanced by Charlie's comic asides about "life upon the wicked stage." There are hilarious stories of performances for boisterous school boys who hear sexual overtones in the drama; of thespians upstaging each other; and the maddening delays created by the actress who plays Lady Macbeth. Among Brett's most entertaining creations, she insists on everyone "interpreting" the roles instead of acting.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Gollancz
• Publication date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0575040033
• ISBN 13: 9780575040038
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192