I finished reading Chaplin's autobiography today. It's a fascinating read as much for what is left out as what is included and Chaplin, like many comedians is something of an enigmatic figure. He is certainly vain, impressed by celebrity and mercurial in relationships, like many comedians I know. But he's passionate and opinionated and intelligent too, despite getting caught up in the fripperies of show business. And he did have an amazing life. Perhaps I have written enough about Hitler and Chaplin now, but I have a vague idea at the back of my mind of writing something about the two of them. But it's based on the idea of what would have happened to Chaplin if Hitler had won the war and conquered the world. Chaplin would have become his prisoner and I fancy that Hitler would have wanted to meet the man who stood up to him and satirised him, before executing him. I think the similarities between the two men as well as the fact that in private Hitler is said to have enjoyed "The Great Dictator" might make for interesting drama. I also wonder if Chaplin's proud defiance would have stood up at this point, or would he have crumbled?
It's an ambitious project and like my idea for a play about
Felix Yusupov, the man who killed Rasputin, it may have to wait for a few years and until someone will give me the money to stage a sprawling historical epic. But maybe I will always feel I am ten years away from being capable of putting together such a project.
It would be hard to write a play in which Hitler is a character, especially a victorious Hitler. But maybe by 2025 I will have got round to it. So put it in your diaries.
Chaplin's book, which skirts over most of his marriages and affairs, fails to mention several of his important films and makes no mention of Stan Laurel (and many other important figures) who he toured America with before either of them was famous (there's another play to write there), does provide some interesting details about how life was for the poverty-stricken in Victorian London and also the sparkling, but slightly vacuous world of Hollywood. One senses that Chaplin was somewhat of a lonely figure, with few close friends, who enjoyed hanging out with notable writers, thinkers and artists of the day. He certainly name-drops a fair amount. But then the fire in his belly over the dangers of Nazism and his anti-war stance is admirable and exhilarating.
I enjoyed reading about his trip to Bali, which at the time was still holding on to some of its ancient traditions and religions. Chaplin is amazed and literally titillated to see the Balinese women walking around topless. But perhaps that says more about Western civilisation that we are so pathetic and childish to think that exposed breasts are a naughty or amazing thing. It made me feel a bit sad that our prudery has resulted in meaning that this is no longer the case. The Balinese gods also sound more celebratory and less judgemental than ours and it's a shame that we ended up destroying all that too. As if we were improving things by imposing guilt and joylessness on the world. According to Chaplin, before the arrival of Westerners the Balinese had no words for "love" or "thank you", which is also interesting. One takes it for granted that such things are basic parts of all human life, but maybe they are just fanciful impositions that we could quite happily do without. Or maybe it would be nice to live in a world where gratitude and love were taken for granted, rather than having to be expressed.
But that's supposing it's true. Maybe the Balinese were just taking the piss out of Chaplin to get him back for staring at their ladies' bosoms all the time.
Chaplin also reveals that when he was in Japan (he later discovered) there was a plot amongst insurgents to have him assassinated in the hope that it would start a war between Japan and America. He points out in the book that of course he was English and how annoyed the plotters would have been when they discovered this too late. But thankfully Chaplin survived.
I like him a lot despite his imperfections or maybe because of them. He stuck to what he believed, even though it resulted in him having to leave America and his career. The whole
McCarthyite period in the USA is an unbelievable and frightening time and a reminder of how freedoms can be taken from us even in a democracy. Chaplin, proud and vain, but correct, preferred to leave a place that had instigated this witch hunt. Luckily for him despite many expensive divorces and legal cases he had accrued enough of a fortune to live his days out in Switzerland.
Most of my 2010 tour dates are now
up in my gig guide. All the 2010 dates are Hitler Moustache shows (the extended version everywhere except London). I don't know if tickets are on sale everywhere yet, so contact the theatres and not me about any such issues. Don't forget that I am also in
Brighton on 16th October and
Manchester on the 20th October. I sell well in both these towns so do book ahead.
I am also almost certainly doing Hull and Whitstable on the tour and there may be other dates added. Though not too many more hopefully, it's already a fairly ball-breaking tour. And remember Hitler only had one left to break.
Oh let's get all the promo out of the way
There's a live Collings and Herrin podcast in Lincoln on 2nd October and
As It Occurs to Me my new internet stand up and sketch show starts on the 12th October. Very glad to say that
this Sunday's gig at Lyric is now well on the way to selling out. But still tickets left. You might want to book ahead for the October 25th date with the amazing double whammy of Stephen Merchant and Tim Key.
Is that enough for you?
This little oasis of comparative ease will very soon be over. I will really have to make the most of my seven day holiday next week. But looking forward to all that is coming up and I appreciate that I am very lucky to be this busy. Hope you can make it along to some of it!
