Playing Under the Piano

From Downton to Darkest Peru

By: Hugh Bonneville

Narrated by: Hugh Bonneville

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A moving, laugh-out-loud memoir from one of today’s best-loved British actors, whose credits include Downton Abbey, Notting Hill, and Paddington.

From getting his big break as Third Shepherd in the school nativity play, to mistaking a Hollywood star for an estate agent, Hugh Bonneville creates a brilliantly vivid picture of a career on stage and screen. What is it like working with Judi Dench and Julia Roberts, or playing Robert De Niro’s right leg, or not being Gary Oldman, twice? A wickedly funny storyteller, Bonneville also writes with poignancy about his father’s dementia and of his mother, whose life in the secret service emerged only after her death. Whether telling stories of working with divas, Dames, or a bear with a penchant for marmalade, this is a richly entertaining account of his life as an actor.

©2022 Hugh Bonneville (P)2022 Random House Audio

Excellent

Well Done kept me awake so must be good. The telling of different stages of his life was very interesting

Decent read…

I mostly connected with and appreciated the loving chapters about his family, but have to be honest, the early career stories of theatre life were dry, I tuned a lot of that out. I appreciated how Hugh read, very natural. If you’re looking for many stories on Downton Abbey, you’ll be disappointed, there’s only a smattering of stories, but it did make me want to watch DA, so i binge watched all 6 seasons and both movies, just after reading. :)

Nicely done

Interesting to hear an actor narrating his own story. At times the dramatic rise and fall of the story line led the narration to be barely audible. It’s always intriguing to hear about someone’s journey. Good job, Hugh, for sticking it out. Not easy to write nor read such a tome.

A wonderful story, and a delightful performance.

This book will make you laugh, a lot, and cry just a little. It seems a bit short on Downton, but long on the experience. Mr. Bonneville seems like your favorite neighbor down the street.

Witty and Warm

This is one of the books you don't want to end...because it is as if the author is telling you his stories in person. Mr. Bonneville shares his successes and failures in equal, humorous measure. He has a way with words, to be sure. Thoroughly enjoyable, especially for theatre people who will appreciate all of the backstage stories, live theatre mishaps, and audition nightmares.

After an uneasy start, this memoir gains steam and becomes very engaging.

I almost abandoned this book because of the writing quality in the beginning. Hugh Bonneville’s narration is as fine as you’d expect but in the early pages, it seemed like he was trying too hard to impress readers of his cleverness, which I found tedious. But I kept with it and I’m glad I did. As Bonneville seemed to relax as a writer, I was able to relax as a reader and become involved in his very interesting life.

I particularly enjoyed hearing about the various processes and traditions of the British theatre. As a big fan of many of the mentioned plays, I was fascinated by the business of mounting these productions.

I appreciated that this was not a dirt-dishing reminiscence; there are no bad-mouthing anecdotes recounted here. Politics, too, are kept to a minimum.

There are lots of behind-the-scenes insights into Downton Abbey as well as into the world of Paddington Bear. I had actually forgotten that Hugh Bonneville was in some of the movies he discusses his participation in so I may want to go back and check out those films.

By the end of Playing under the Piano, I was fully engaged in the book and I enjoyed it very much.

Wonderful narrative, wonderful narrator!!

I only knew Hugh Bonneville from his roles in Downton Abbey, the Monuments Men, and the Paddington movies. What a wonderful discovery to find this book. Always erudite, by turns witty and poignant, this is a must-read account of a life warmed by family, impassioned by the theater, and narrated by a born raconteur. As I listened while on my daily walks, my neighbors must have wondered why I was laughing out loud. Bonneville's turns of phrase and delicious asides makes one feel as though we are side by side, kicking back and relaxing while he recalls wonderful memories of his life - and those along the way with whom he works.

As I’d hoped the author to be

Hilarious, pathos and entertaining as hell. A wonderful listen and glimpse into the life of a talented actor.

Great fun

What a beautiful memoir about the life of Mr. Bonneville. A testament to his upbringing and the parents who raised him. Enjoyably amusing and very well read.

A Must Buy

I have told all my friends to buy this book. Bonneville presents a wonderful account of his life & work. You will not be disappointed with a single word!