A vagabond is a wanderer, drifting to and fro having no fixed abode. Curry’s father, a chaplain in the British defence force, was moved every two years to a new posting. Our author’s wandering started early.
After high school, Curry chose Birmingham University as it had The Shakespeare Institute, a post-graduate research centre.
Aged 22, within months of graduating, Curry auditioned for a part in the 1968 production of Hair and became a member of the troupe. The performance itself was outrageous, as were the nights and days away from the theatre.
He shared an apartment in Hampstead, began smoking hashish, and learnt to cook. His roast chicken dish (incorporating the potent cannabis concentrate) was very popular.
In 1969, Curry joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and then moved to Glasgow Citizens Theatre to gain experience with a repertory group.
The Royal Court Theatre in London is an innovative company with a reputation of supporting experimental writers. The owners agreed to back a six-week run for a provocative production that became known as The Rocky Horror Show. Curry was offered the role of Dr Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite from Transylvania. It was a runaway success from the first night.
Curry’s career took off but his health suffered. Alcohol, drugs, smoking, lack of sleep, and overwork resulted in a stroke that left him partially paralysed. His vagabond days are over. He now lives in a specially revamped apartment with a carer and a wheelchair.
Vagabond is a fascinating biography, simply told, witty and full of life. There’s no mention of any romantic relationships. In an introduction, Curry indicates that he has loved and been loved but details will not be divulged in this memoir.
Book review by Clive Hodges
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Timothy James Curry was born on April 19, 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. His mother, Maura Patricia (Langmead), was a school secretary, and his father, James Curry, was a Methodist Royal Navy chaplain. Curry studied Drama and English at Birmingham University, from which he graduated with Combined Honors. His first professional success was in the London production of “Hair”, followed by more work in the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Glasgow Citizens Repertory Company, and the Royal Court Theatre where he created the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show”. He recreated the role in the Los Angeles and Broadway productions and starred in the screen version entitled The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975). Curry continued his career on the New York and London stages with starring roles in “Travesties”, “Amadeus”, “The Pirates of Penzance”, “The Rivals”, “Love for Love”, “Dalliance”, “The Threepenny Opera”, “The Art of Success” and “My Favorite Year”.
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