The classic black comedy What The Butler Saw, by acclaimed playwright Joe Orton, comes to Eastbourne’s Devonshire Park Theatre from Tuesday 29th September to Saturday 3rd October.
Orton’s final play, a subversive and witty take on Britain’s authority figures and social conventions in the 60s, is considered one of Orton’s best and major works.
This hilarious farce revolves around Dr. Prentice, a psychiatrist attempting to seduce his attractive prospective secretary, Geraldine Barclay. When his wife enters, he attempts to cover up his activity by hiding the girl behind a curtain.
His wife, however, is also being seduced and blackmailed by a Nicholas Beckett. She therefore promises Nicholas the post as secretary, which adds further confusion, including Nicholas and Geraldine dressing as the opposite sex.
Dr. Prentice’s clinic is then faced with a government inspection and what follows is a near faultless piece of theatrical invention as these ingredients form the basis for a perfect recipe of outrageous confusion!
What the Butler Saw stars Jenny Funnell (Doctors, The Bill) as Mrs Prentice; Marcus Hutton (Holby City, Hollyoaks) as Sergeant Match; David Callister (The Bill, The Chief) as Dr Rance; Patric Kearns (Equus, Straight and Narrow) as Dr Prentice and the play’s director; Melissa Clements (Casualty) as Geraldine Barclay (pictured) and Ewan Goddard (Doctors) as Nicholas Beckett.
Catch What the Butler Saw at the Devonshire Park Theatre from Tuesday 29th September to Saturday 3rd October with evening performances at 7.45pm, and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, from £15.50 – £21.50; Under16s and Students £9 Under £25s £10 are availablke to book by calling the Box Office on 01323 412000 or online at www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk.
