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What the Butler Saw
By Joe Orton
Directed by Sean Graney
At Court Theatre
5535 S. Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL
Call 773-753-4472, tickets $38 - $54
Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 3 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2:30 & 7 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 20 minutes with intermission
Through December 9, 2007
Ortonesdque: “Term describing theatrical comedy that combines morbid, sexually rambunctious, and utterly absurd events with intricate, but mundane dialogue to hilarious effect.” “Outrageously macabre”
Prentice: "I'm not mad. It only looks that way.”
Rance: "Your actions today would get the Archbishop of Canterbury declared non-compos."
Prentice: "I'm not the Archbishop of Canterbury."
Rance: "That will come at a later stage of your illness."
---from What the Butler Saw
Playfully wild farce screams with humor and sexuality
Combine director Sean Graney (from The Hypocrite’s Theatre) and the crazy genius of British satirist Joe Orton (1933-67) and you have the ingredients for a humorous show. What the Butler Saw, now at Court Theatre, is a ferociously energetic farce filled with slamming doors, risqué adventures and sardonic British humor. Playwright Orton utilizes the tradition of comedic farce characterized by instances of mistaken identify, improbably complex situations, linguistic acrobatics and sexual deviancy. Orton both plays homage and mocks the form. I laughed and laughed at the sheer wildness and raunchiness of this biting farce.
Set in a private British psychiatric clinic, What the Butler Saw is an over-the-top comedy distinctly British in flavor yet universally funny at its core. Filled with chaotic lunacy with swipes at the police, British morality and the benefits of psychoanalysis, What the Butler Saw is over two hours of manic humor played to the hilt by a wonderfully brave cast that seemed to have as much fun playing their parts as we have witnessing the mayhem.
Dr. Prentice (the zany Blake Montgomery) tries to seduce the nerdy Geraldine Barclay (Mechelle Moe in a terrific comedic turn). When she takes off her clothes, Mrs. Prentice (the droll Mary Beth Fisher) interrupts him. Chaos ensues as Mrs. tells of her sexual escapades with a bell boy, Nicholas Beckett (JB Waterman). Enter the crazy state inspector, Dr. Rance (the wildly insane Joe Foust) and the misadventures and mistaken identities escalate.
A series of outrageous lies by Dr. Prentice in order to cover up his seduction leads to pandemonium in a grand scale. This complex show defies description as events, word play and sight gags combine to produce one of the most frenzied comedies seen on a Chicago stage in years! With a state inspector, a philandering wife, a sexual active bellboy and police officer with a cat fetish and missing parts of a statue of Churchill, director Graney has his cast going full throttle throughout.
The comedy of circumstance is a tad too long and it has some quite British dry comedic references, yet I found the manic pace and the exquisite comedic timing and spot-on reactions of the players splendidly crafty. The crazy bits and predicaments flowed smoothly in the hands of this cast. Blake Montgomery and Joe Foust anchor the mayhem while Mary Beth Fisher and Mechelle Moe together with Eric Slater and JB Waterman offer outstanding moments. This is ensemble comedy at its zenith!
Classic farce can be hilarious or stupidly silly---here it is marvelous funny night of theatre. Get to Court Theatre and laugh your head off at What the Butler Saw. I sure did.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2007
Jeff Recommended
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