Peter Allen’s performances at the height of his career in London, New York and Los Angeles were nothing less than spectacular, drawing rave reviews, cult crowds and an ever-increasing network of friends which boasted Bette Midler, Richard Gere and Harry Connick Jnr. With ‘talent’ stamped all over him and a jump-start, whirlwind marriage to Liza Minnelli, Allen had a one-way ticket to the Big Time. What could be further from his humble beginnings in country Australia than the legendary performances in his heyday that, as one critic wrote, ‘would have scandalised any decade other than the 70s.’
Peter Allen: the Boy from Oz is an insider’s look at the man - his fame, image, artistry and survival. Stephen MacLean follows the fascinating and complex trajectory of Allen’s stardom, from his rise through the gender-blurred scramble of the 70s to become part of the popular mainstream, developing as a songwriter in his own right. Out of the spotlight Allen was held dear by many for his vivacity and humour, and onstage for his powerhouse performances, the trademark high energy, tireless and camp ‘is he-isn’ he’ banter never failing to bring the house down.
But underlying his ambition and flamboyant persona were the darker aspects of his past - the reality behind his passionate will to survive in the cut-throat international stage circuit that spanned Australia, Asia, England and America. The painful legacies of family tragedy, heartbreak, guilt, illness and in the end, an incredibly fickle industry, all played a part in his determination to keep going. Tragically, they were also the strangleholds that cued his personal and professional curtain calls: his love for show business sustained him, but the final reality was harsher than the dream.
