What the Butler Saw

Synopsis

When psychoanalyst Dr Prentice instructs his new secretary to undress, little does he expect to be interrupted by his wife, her blackmailing lover, a meddling government inspector and an inquisitive policeman. But hiding a naked woman is the least of his worries, as libidos run riot, identities are swapped and social decorum is buried.

Our Review:

26 August 2005

NOTE: The following review dates from July 2005 and this production's original run at London's Hampstead Theatre.

In 2002, director David Grindley had a huge hit at Hampstead Theatre with his revival of 1977’s Abigail's Party, which subsequently transferred for an extended season in the West End and toured the UK. Three years later, Grindley has turned back the clock another decade to revive an earlier comedy satirising British pretensions.

But while Mike Leigh poked fun at the socially aspirant, Joe Orton sends up the moneyed classes they aspire to in What the Butler Saw - as well as challenging that then crumbling establishment’s views on madness, identity and, most importantly, sex. In an age of free love, the pill and gay liberation, Orton’s own erotic obsessions led to his demise. Less than a month after completing the script for What the Butler Saw in 1967, the 33-year-old playwright...

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Latest User Review

212.158.229.242) - 30 September 2005:

Really enjoyable evening at the theatre....

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