Bean Counting

Sun Herald

Sunday November 9, 1997

Jon Underwood

Bean There Done That, The Life And Times Of Rowan Atkinson by Bruce Dessau

Orion $29.95.

Riding on the hot exhaust pipe of Mr Bean's success comes a book teasingly billed as the first illustrated celebration of Atkinson's talent.

Sadly, there is more "times" than "life" in this colourful 112-page stroll through Atkinson's career. Dessau has done a fine job charting the rise of this complex comedian, but there are precious few comments from the man himself, mainly newspaper quotes on relevant topics.

For example (and somewhat suprisingly), when asked about the success of Mr Bean, Atkinson replies: "I hate doing the job of Mr Bean. I find being Mr Bean very stressful. Mr Bean is a very personal comedy statement and there is no support cast."

This from the man who brought Venice Beach in California to a standstill during filming of the Bean film, leaving the set of Baywatch shooting down the coast virtually deserted.

What becomes obvious is that Atkinson is the almost cliched classic clown - the deeply private man with the ability to make millions laugh but wracked by personal doubt.

For example: "People think because I can make them laugh on the stage, I'll be able to make them laugh in person. That isn't the case at all. I am essentially a rather quiet, dull person who happens to be a performer."

But the snippets of early life we have are truly interesting: Atkinson went to the same school as British Prime Minister Tony Blair, his school nicknames were Dopie, Zoonie, Moonman, Green Man and Gruman, and his greatest pleasure is not to be found on stage ... but passing his HGV test.

"The thrill of making 2000 people in a theatre laugh is but a light breeze compared to the tornado of excitement I felt at that moment."

If you are a devoted Bean fan, or think Blackadder the greatest comic work since Fawlty Towers, this one is for you. It may only scratch the surface of what makes the man, but it's likely to be the deepest you'll ever get.