The Butler

Synopsis

Coming all the way from green New Zealand, The Butler is sexy, visually astonishing and very, very funny. Written by international writer Joe Bennett, and performed by the actors and acrobats of The Loons Circus Theatre Company, The Butler holds the mirror up to middle-class manners and the result is glorious mayhem. The Butler has played to sell-out audiences at venues throughout New Zealand and the critics have raved. They’ve called it ‘Cirque du Soleil for grown-ups' and ‘Pinter on stilts’ but in the end The Butler is what The Butler is, and what it is is something utterly new but instantly recognisable. It’s the must-see show of 2010. Please note this performance contains nudity and explicit images in second half.

Our Review:

Theo Bosanquet - 16 July 2010

How to define The Butler? Others have dubbed it 'Pinter on stilts' and 'Cirque du Soleil for grown-ups', but I'd say a 'smorgasbord of silliness' is probably closer to the mark.

Some profundity lies in its surreal observations of human social behaviour, but in truth this Loons Circus creation is exactly what it started out as - a cleverly conceived showcase for a disparate group of talents.

It opens with a bald, half naked man introducing himself as a “butler of the night”, before an hypnotic 20-minute montage of circus skills, set to a thumping Philip Glass composition, introduces us to the attractive ensemble of supple New Zealanders.

The TS Eliot-quoting butler (Tom Trevella) acts as a sort of ghoulish commentator, as the jugglers, stilt-walkers and contortionists attend a dinner party with a difference. Carnal desire is top of the menu, washed down with a blend of mime, circus and burlesque, topped off with a healthy dollop of gra...

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Latest User Review

Kath Andrews - 28 July 2010:

I completely agree with Joe Spiteri. I was disappointed. Very disappointed. From the reviews I had in my head that this show would be like Psy (a must see show of a similar nature) but The Butler did not compare at all. I thought the first half was just about manageable. The acrobatics were amazing but they just didn't seem to fit the rest of the script. It seems like the play and the acrobatics were 2 completely different things which just didn't go together. The second half I thought was awful. I was hoping the play was going to pick up and that any story that there was would develop and actually show through but it didn't. In fact it was boring and made me feel uncomfortable. The acting seemed force and over the top. It reminded me of some GCSE drama students putting in too much effort in a play which just didn't flow whatsoever. I think the cast are very talented gymnasts/acrobats but they're wasting this doing this show. I would not recommend this show to anyone and I didn't like how much of the play I had to assume. Best thing about the show would be the seats in the audience, although it was boiling. I appreciate this couldn't be helped but it just made me more agitated. A huge disappointment....

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