The Entertainer (play) Holm as Jean and Bertie Carvel as Frank. In 1960, a paperback novelization by John Burke was published by Four Square Books to coincide with the release of the film. Though the attribution line says "based on the play", it is actually based on the screenplay by Osborne and Nigel Kneale. The Entertainer (play) The Entertainer is a three-act play by John Osborne, first produced in 1957. His first play, "Look Back in Anger", had attracted mixed notices but a great deal of publicity. Having depicted an "angry young man" in the earlier play, Osborne wrote at Laurence Olivier's request
John Osborne (barrister) John Osborne (barrister) John Osborne (c.1630-1692) was an English barrister and Law Officer who spent much of his life in Ireland. He was the only surviving son of the celebrated writer Francis Osborne, and was the subject of his father's most famous book, "Advice to a Son" (1656-1658). John qualified as a barrister and moved to Ireland, where he rose to the top of the legal profession. He became Prime Serjeant-at-law under King Charles II. Since he was a determined opponent of King James II, he was removed from office by James's government, and was later proscribed by the Irish