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Whats On Production What the Butler Saw (2002)
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What the Butler Saw (2002)

Click to see a larger picture of What the Butler Saw Directed By
John Norris

Producer
Liz Butt
Production Type
Nomads Production

Production Location
Main Theatre

Production Photographs

Genre: Comedy Turnout: 61% Length: 2hrs 30mins

User Rating: (3/5 with 3 votes)

Description:
This first production of Orton in Horsley will lead to some raised eyebrows‚ muttering under the breath and cries of‚ "Is this right for Horsley?"

The play was first performed in 1969. The public attitude was far different then‚ and ... [more]


Production Dates & Prices:
(Please note Booking Information)

 Date
Time
Price
 
 Tuesday 12th March 2002
8:00pm
£8.00
 Wednesday 13th March 2002
8:00pm
£8.00
 Thursday 14th March 2002
8:00pm
£8.00
 Friday 15th March 2002
8:00pm
£8.00
 Saturday 16th March 2002
8:00pm
£8.00
FULL HOUSE


Cast: (in programme order)
Chris Bissex ... Dr Prentice
Nikki Tidy ... Geraldine Barclay
Elizabeth Eaton ... Mrs Prentice
Mat Goldhawk ... Nicholas Beckett
Clive Mott ... Dr Rance
Martin Lawrance ... Sergeant Match

Crew: (in programme order)
John Norris ... Director
Tim Williams ... Sound Operator
Tom Thomas ... Set Construction
Liz Butt ... Producer
David Payne ... Set Design
Rob Fee ... Set Construction
Gordon Hilliker ... Set Construction
Charles Hope ... Set Construction
David Payne ... Set Construction
Guy Stevenson ... Set Construction
Sarah Thomas ... Set Construction
Tom Thomas ... Set Construction
Thomas Henry Wells ... Set Construction
Andrew Nice ... Stage Manager
Charles Hope ... Lighting Designer
Robin Williams ... Sound Design
Jill Evans ... Wardrobe
Brenda Brooks ... Prompt
Elizabeth Cox ... Prompt
Patricia Yehia ... Front of House Manager
Juliette Rainbird ... Box Office
Phillip Griffith ... Poster Design
Phillip Griffith ... Programme Design



Official Review:
What the butler Saw: the review
Television audiences, at least television studio audiences, being presented with what they are told is comedy seem to feel obliged to laugh at more or less every other line, funny or not. It is sufficient that the actor, whom they know to be a comedian or comic actor has spoken the line. Often the most sincere response to humour is a smile or a chuckle, rather than a forced Ha! Ha! Ha! to show you've seen the joke.

Joe Orton knew this. When working on What The Butler Saw he wrote a a scene where Geraldine is disguised as an Indian nurse. It made him laugh a lot so he promptly removed it on the grounds that when anything makes him roar with laughter, it's a sure sign it must be cut. The essence of farce is that the action must never be held up and whilst descending trousers etc. can legitimately be laughed at, nothing should interfere with the pace and interaction of the dialogue nor interrupt its delivery.

This happy state of affairs existed at The Nomads' production of What The Butler Saw. An appreciative audience was entertained by, smiled, chuckled and laughed at a spirited production whilst allowing the actors to move the inimitable Orton dialogue at the right pace. The strange characters of the Orton world with their manered and sometimes quite stately dialogue were successfully introduced to East Horsley, despite the Director's tongue in cheek concerns, although Sir Winston Churchill's dismembered member was never actually seen (see the play folks). The play'scomplicated choreography was facilitated by a strong and well thoughtout set and, most important, the actors themselves obviously enjoyed their excursion into Orton Country with its semi-demented pace and its 'all is understood and all is forgiven' ending a la Shakespeare.

Chris Bissex's Dr Prentice was obviously doomed never to complete a seduction and got shiftier and shiftier. Elizabeth Eaton's Oedipal Mrs Prentice was both scary and seductive and one understood the 'sex in the cupboard' potential (again see the play.) Fortunately Clive Mott's Dr Rance was not required to undress; fortunately Nikki Tidy's Geraldine Barclay was. For the ladies Martin Lawrance as Sergeant Match stripped down to his policeman's helmet (Orton not me) and Mat Goldhawk as Nicholas Beckett en deshabille whould certainly have appealed to Joe himself. Well done, John Norris. Well directed.


Related News:
Feb 2002 What the Butler Saw - BOOK NOW!


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What the Butler Saw


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