I've very much enjoyed John Barrowman's performance as Captain Jack on Doctor Who (a show of which I am a huge and unabashed fan), and every time I've come across an interview with him, he's struck me as being full of appealingly goofy charisma, a kind of infectiously enthusiastic energy, and a deliciously raunchy sense of humor. So I figured his autobiography had to be fun to read, and I wasn't disappointed. This book would be worthwhile, really, just for the funny stories from his childhood, which he tells in a pleasantly rambling style with the assistance of hilariously cheeky footnotes. The rest of the book is a bit more of a mixed bag, I suppose: funny anecdotes, sad anecdotes, straightforward biographical information, lots of the usual celebrity name-dropping, and a fair amount of egotism that's pleasantly leavened with an occasionally self-deprecating sense of humor. Barrowman says at the outset that his hope is that "you'll feel as if you and I are lounging in our pyjamas on the couch in my Cardiff living room, sharing a bottle of champagne or a pot of tea, with music on in the background, having a blether and a laugh about my life so far." And that's exactly the feeling he manages to achieve.

The 4/5 rating is a little generous, maybe, but doggone it, I had fun. ( )

Random pick and mix of events from JB's life & career - probably not much in here that isn't already well-known to fans via interviews and articles already available, but a fun read anyway. His very recent TV work - judging "How Do You Solve a Problem like Maria?", "Any Dream will do", competing in "Dancing on Ice", and of course "Doctor Who" & "Torchwood" - gets relatively little mention, so fans of Captain Jack might be a little disappointed on that score, but there's plenty of tales about older performances, both on stage and recorded, to give you a picture of what he's like to work with. Also includes 24 pages of pictures - mostly candids, in and out of costume. ( )

This is exactly what I would expect if I sat down and dished with John over a few cocktails. I love the fact that it isn't chronological - that's what usually drags a memoir down, since most people do not have an exciting childhood. The story is told in chapters named after songs from various musicals, skipping around a bit, but never getting you too lost. The best part of the book, hands down, is the way he uses footnotes. Snarky little side comments that had me laughing time after time. He's not afraid to talk about being gay in the entertainment world. Most of all, his clear and obvious love for his family and friends shines through in every page. A real pleasure to read. ( )

"My ending isn't written yet, my show's not over. Stay in your seats. This is only the intermission."

These final lines of John Barrowman's autobiography Anything Goes beg the question of why the life story of a young performer, hardly a lion of the theater, would be worth reading.

Actually, though, it is. Barrowman, probably better known in the United Kingdom than in the USA, is a talented actor and singer, with wide-ranging experience in theatre, television, and music. He's also one of the few openly gay male entertainers in the business. So if you're interested in behind-the-scenes stories from the American and British entertainment industries told from the perspective of a multi-talented out performer, John Barrowman - with the help of his English professor sister Carole - delivers the goods spiced with a delicious sense of humor and a sprinkled with entertaining footnoted asides.

There are a few aspects of Anything Goes that might bear some improvement, however. For one thing, Barrowman tends to be his own biggest fan, well aware of both his talent and his good looks. Then, his repeated mention of celebrity names – Simon Mackintosh, Stephen Sondheim, Cher, and Carol Burnett, among many others – at times come to resemble mere name-dropping. And finally, aside from a brief anecdote about the producers of the short-lived American nighttime soap Central Park West who suggested that he keep both his homosexuality and his partner Scott Gill under wraps, Barrowman tends to gloss over any negative experiences in favor of a Candide-like "best of all possible worlds" approach to recounting his life. Fortunately, though, the personality that comes through the pages of Anything Goes is so engaging and so likeable that any flaws in the book are easily overlooked or easily forgiven.

Most Americans probably know Barrowman best for his roles in two BBC sci-fi series. So, for fans of Torchwood and Doctor Who, Barrowman's autobiography gives a fascinating insight into the life and career of the actor behind Captain Jack. And darn it, John's right - he does have killer good looks. Those physical charms make the photo of Barrowman demonstrating what he wears under his kilt just an extra added attraction to an already engaging read! ( )

http://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2008/01... ( )