REVIEW
What the Butler Saw
Lindisfarne Players
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
30th October to 3rd November 2018
by Cathy Memery
What the Butler Saw
Lindisfarne Players
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
30th October to 3rd November 2018
by Cathy Memery
Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw has been a controversial piece of theatre since its first production in 1969. It is often hailed as Orton’s masterpiece, and was designed to be provocative in its approach to issues of sexuality and gender.
The action of the play takes place in a psychiatrist’s office, where everyone appears to border on the brink of insanity. The farce begins when Dr Prentice insists that an interview for a secretary requires a nude examination of the applicant. To this confusion is added a whole host of characters, all of whom bring with them their own issues, anxieties and neuroses.
Bearing all of this in mind, What the Butler Saw is a brave choice for Lindisfarne director, Jacquee Storozynski, particularly in today’s very politically correct world. And, in many ways, it worked. The first half was a little slow, but it picked up the second act where the pace was fast and furious.
The action begins with a rather unorthodox interview technique, which contrasts Dr Prentice’s (ably played by Rob Stow) sexual desires with the innocence of his unsuspecting interviewee (Alison Seymour). The resulting compromising, and hilarious, situation is interrupted by a succession of bizarre characters- the doctor’s sexually frustrated wife, an overly officious hospital inspector, a fairly gullible policeman, and a disreputable hotel porter.
As the show progresses and the confusion mounts, Stow cleverly portrays the mental breakdown of Prentice, who digs himself an ever deeper hole while consuming vast amounts of alcohol. Carol Hayes puts in a convincing performance of Prentice’s frustrated and embittered wife, while Simon Jones gives an energetic portrayal of the lewd hotel porter who has aspirations to be a psychiatrist’s secretary.
However, the star of this particular show has to be Jeremy Battersby. His portrayal of the ironically mad and drug-addicted psychiatrist is convincing and highly entertaining. His comic timing is, as ever, impeccable. His overwhelming desire to diagnose everyone with something and medicate them has eerie echoes of today’s society.
All in all an enjoyable, if somewhat politically incorrect, night at the theatre.
Tickets £15.00
Concessions £14.00
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
The action of the play takes place in a psychiatrist’s office, where everyone appears to border on the brink of insanity. The farce begins when Dr Prentice insists that an interview for a secretary requires a nude examination of the applicant. To this confusion is added a whole host of characters, all of whom bring with them their own issues, anxieties and neuroses.
Bearing all of this in mind, What the Butler Saw is a brave choice for Lindisfarne director, Jacquee Storozynski, particularly in today’s very politically correct world. And, in many ways, it worked. The first half was a little slow, but it picked up the second act where the pace was fast and furious.
The action begins with a rather unorthodox interview technique, which contrasts Dr Prentice’s (ably played by Rob Stow) sexual desires with the innocence of his unsuspecting interviewee (Alison Seymour). The resulting compromising, and hilarious, situation is interrupted by a succession of bizarre characters- the doctor’s sexually frustrated wife, an overly officious hospital inspector, a fairly gullible policeman, and a disreputable hotel porter.
As the show progresses and the confusion mounts, Stow cleverly portrays the mental breakdown of Prentice, who digs himself an ever deeper hole while consuming vast amounts of alcohol. Carol Hayes puts in a convincing performance of Prentice’s frustrated and embittered wife, while Simon Jones gives an energetic portrayal of the lewd hotel porter who has aspirations to be a psychiatrist’s secretary.
However, the star of this particular show has to be Jeremy Battersby. His portrayal of the ironically mad and drug-addicted psychiatrist is convincing and highly entertaining. His comic timing is, as ever, impeccable. His overwhelming desire to diagnose everyone with something and medicate them has eerie echoes of today’s society.
All in all an enjoyable, if somewhat politically incorrect, night at the theatre.
Tickets £15.00
Concessions £14.00
www.southendtheatres.org.uk
Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fees. Groups of 10+ please call 01702 351135 to buy fee-free.
Ask the Audience
Roger, Southend
"Much of the subject matter of the play would have been far more shocking when it was first performed than it is now, Attitudes have changed a great deal (although references to rape or golliwogs in a comedy somewhat the reverse case). Viewing it a period piece the show was however very entertaining. A little slow at the start, like many farces, while the scene is set is excusable. With characters getting drunk and/or confused as the play unfolded it was, as the pace increased, difficult to tell if the acting was excellent or the cast were forgetting their lines. This added to the comedy so I'm putting it down to well spent rehearsal time. Worth going to see if you are not offended by the attitudes of the 1960's."
Roger, Southend
"Much of the subject matter of the play would have been far more shocking when it was first performed than it is now, Attitudes have changed a great deal (although references to rape or golliwogs in a comedy somewhat the reverse case). Viewing it a period piece the show was however very entertaining. A little slow at the start, like many farces, while the scene is set is excusable. With characters getting drunk and/or confused as the play unfolded it was, as the pace increased, difficult to tell if the acting was excellent or the cast were forgetting their lines. This added to the comedy so I'm putting it down to well spent rehearsal time. Worth going to see if you are not offended by the attitudes of the 1960's."
Cast
Dr Prentice – Rob Stow
Mrs Prentice – Carol Hayes
Geraldine Barclay – Alison Seymour
Nicholas Beckett – Simon Jones
Rance - Jeremy Battersby
Match – Ian Morton
Director – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll
Dr Prentice – Rob Stow
Mrs Prentice – Carol Hayes
Geraldine Barclay – Alison Seymour
Nicholas Beckett – Simon Jones
Rance - Jeremy Battersby
Match – Ian Morton
Director – Jacquee Storozynski-Toll