The Graham Norton Book Club Ep 8: Tim Rice and RuPaul
Aug 1, 2024
Sir Tim Rice, a musical theatre legend and devoted fan of P.G. Wodehouse, shares his love for the whimsical worlds created by the author. RuPaul, the iconic drag superstar, invites listeners into his 'House of Hidden Meanings,' discussing the transformative power of creativity and self-discovery in literature. The vibrant conversation flows through nostalgic reflections on classic literature, touching on humor, identity, and the enduring significance of beloved characters like Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.
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Why Wodehouse's Voice Still Works
- P.G. Wodehouse's writing pairs sparkling prose with a deliberately foolish narrator, making the humour feel effortless.
- His imagined world of upper-class twits and a sagacious butler proves enduring and culturally influential.
Meeting Wodehouse While Developing A Musical
- Tim Rice recounts meeting P.G. Wodehouse and working briefly on a Jeeves musical with Andrew Lloyd Webber.
- He withdrew from the project, received a charming reply from Wodehouse, and later felt relieved by that correspondence.
Dropping Jeeves Led To Evita
- Rice describes leaving the Jeeves musical because he felt his lyrics couldn't match Wodehouse's comic prose.
- That decision led him to pursue Evita and shaped his later career path.