It was the unexpected casting of Laurence Olivier as Archie Rice in John Osborne’s The Entertainer which made its premiere in 1959 so memorable. Here was the foremost classical actor not only cast as a camp, sleazy, fifth-rate music-hall comedian, but also appearing at the Royal Court Theatre, home to all the angry young men.
Archie Rice is one of the great 20th-century roles and it was a major turning point in Olivier’s career, bringing him into the modern, kitchen-sink mainstream. And 50 years on, Olivier’s performance remains the definitive one.
