Barrymore musical ‘sick’ says pool victim’s dad
A MUSICAL about the rise and fall of comedian Michael Barrymore has been criticised as ‘sick and depraved’.
More More More examines the TV star’s sexuality and addictions, as well as the death of Stuart Lubbock, whose body was found in Barrymore’s swimming pool following a party.
The musical is due to run for two nights at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington, North London, at the end of next month. But Mr Lubbock’s father Terry, 72, criticised the decision to stage a play about the death of his 31year- old son, who was found in the pool at Barrymore’s £2million mansion in Roydon, Essex, in 2001.
‘This show should be stopped from going ahead. It’s incredibly bad taste,’ he said. ‘My son’s death is not history to be dragged up for entertainment.’
He told the Mirror: ‘The thought of people profiting off of my dead son’s memory is sick and depraved. How anyone could be so insensitive is beyond me. I believe this is yet another attempt at trying to resurrect Barrymore’s character. Barrymore knows what happened that night and it’s about time he came clean.’
Tests could not ascertain whether Mr Lubbock died from drowning, heart failure or from the ecstasy, cocaine and alcohol in his bloodstream. He had also sustained severe internal injuries that indicated sexual assault. An inquest recorded an open verdict. Barrymore was arrested in 2007 on suspicion of rape and murder but the case was dropped three months later.
Barrymore, who drew a huge following as presenter of Strike It Lucky and Strike it Rich between 1986 and 1999, and once earned £2.5million a year, has maintained his innocence and says the arrest ruined his career.
He is suing Essex Police. Barrymore and the Pleasance did not respond to requests for comment.