What the Butler Saw

Comedy

Key City Public Theatre

Venue: Key City Playhouse
419 Washington St.
Port Townsend
360-385-2454
Opening Night: Friday, June 26, 2009
Closes: Sunday, July 19, 2009

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What the Butler Saw a comedy by Joe Orton. Produced by Key City Public Theatre. Directed by David Hundhausen. Performances run June 26July 19 at Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St., Port Townsend. Thu. and Sun. at 7 p.m.; Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m.

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Price range: $10 - $15

This event has been viewed 543 times
Last viewed on July 28, 2010, 7:50 pm
It was last updated on June 27, 2009, 4:18 pm
It was originally posted: 2009-02-12 15:32:53
By Key City Players

DESCRIPTION

“What the Butler Saw,” the classic black comedy by Joe Orton, is produced by Key City Public Theatre and directed by David Hundhausen.

Performances run June 26-July 19 at Key City Playhouse, 419 Washington St., Port Townsend. Curtains are Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.

General admission is $15; $10 for students. Advance tickets (available beginning June 5) at Quimper Sound Music and Media, 230 Taylor St., Port Townsend; 360-385-2454. The pay-what-you-wish performance is Thurs., July 2.

For more info, call 360-385-7396 or visit www.keycitypublictheatre.org.

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average rating: - from 1 reviewer
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Capturing the real 1960’s is illusive. Most writers at the time wrote from limited perspectives or what they imagined Hollywood wanted (“The Graduate”, “Easy Rider”, “Oh, Calcutta!”). In Key City Public Theatre’s “What the Butler Saw”, playwright Joe Orton sells us the Encyclopedia Britannica on gender bending. When the show opens, we meet a hapless nymphet and a sleazy psychiatrist (ala Terry Southern’s “Candy”). The plot unravels in a cheesy yet inviting London clinic with faux wainscoting (Kevin Coker). Wall pictures and a mesmerizing mural foreshadow the action.

Overall direction (David Hundhausen) is strong: good casting, complex staging, and fast pacing. Plenty of philandering with no philosophical pondering allowed. The opening night audience laughed regularly. On the other hand, accents are ersatz and comic pacing is funniest when controlled crescendos (orgasms?) are involved. Primary colored costumes (Erin McNamara) and reversible hairdos (Angela Brasier-Agnew) are a jackass gas. The whiskers are a bit much. Practical lighting (Albert Mendez) helps.

Perfectly coifed Mrs. Prentice (Denise Fleener) captures the easy grace of this sex orgy with aplomb. Her stagy exits are delicious. Dr. Prentice (Jay Page) is central to all shenanigans, keeping us all “I Am Curious Yellow” throughout. Geraldine Barclay (Rebecca May) and Nicholas Beckett (Rob Lovato) are fascinating sexpots depending, of course, on your preferences. Dr. Rance (Peter Wiant) and Sargent Match (Sam Cavallaro) seem stiff but provide all the justification needed to lock up anybody on stage at a moment’s notice.

On balance, I give this production of this production of “What The Butler Saw” 4 amateur stars.

-Steve Treacy

June 27, 2009, 4:18 pm

REVIEWS & PREVIEWS	User-Submitted Reviews
	average rating: - from 1 reviewer Read complete reviews Capturing the real 1960’s is illusive. Most writers at the time wrote from limited perspectives or what they imagined Hollywood wanted (“The Graduate ... -Steve Treacy June 27, 2009, 4:18 pm