Leonie Orton Barnett's memoir, I Had It In Me promises to be the autobiography of the year.
Recently published by Quirky Press, extracts from the book have been read at public appearances by Ms Orton over the past two years at Joe Orton anniversary events in his hometown of Leicester.
I finally got to buy a copy last night at one of Leonie's book launches. As I entered Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham I was greeted by the smiling author who recounted our previous meeting a few years ago. It was in 2013 at a village fete far from the East Midlands and Leonie was one of the organisers. We had been chatting for a while without my realising who she was but it gradually dawned on me that I had heard her distinct Leicester accent before on a TV documentary about Joe Orton.
In Nottingham Leonie recalled "He said I know who you are! I think you're Joe Orton's sister... Well I nearly fell through the floor!"
At the fete we spoke about Leicester's Little Theatre - apparently Joe wasn't keen on the place because they never gave him any leading parts.
After telling me about the plans for the Entertaining Mr Sloane anniversary at University of Leicester (in 2014) we posed for a photo together.
Back to the Nottingham book launch in 2016, and Leonie explains to the audience how she felt compelled to share her memories of brother John (Joe) after John Lahr's Prick Up Your Ears was published in 1978.
Her turning point came however, when she ripped off her rubber gloves and fled from her pot-washing job. A moment anyone who has ever worked in dead-end employment will identify with. That move led to college and the Open University...
Leonie Orton has a sense of the absurd which most of her readers will agree is genetic. It also seems to be something that working class East Midlanders (like myself) can strongly relate to.
The way she reads aloud the appallingly insensitive and pompous letter from Peggy Ramsay - which was written prior to Joe's funeral - turns it into a masterpiece of black comedy. Sickening and hilarious in equal measures.
Incidentally, Leonie Orton reads the Edna Welthorpe letters better than anyone else does too - except, perhaps Kenneth Williams.
If you get the chance to attend one of Ms Orton's book launches, don't miss it. And if you can't see her in person, you simply must buy the book.
I Had It In Me is available from the publishers here:
