Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Teesdale Mercury
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Teesdale Mercury
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Review of What The Butler Saw – Darlington Hippodrome

by Andrew Harrison
June 19, 2024
in Art & Leisure
Review of What The Butler Saw – Darlington Hippodrome

What The Butler Saw

THE latest production from London Classic Theatre is Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw. This dark farce has been repeatedly performed since 1969.

The play takes place in Dr Prentice’s private clinic. Dr Prentice (played by John Dorney), a sleazy psychiatrist is interviewing Geraldine Barclay (played by Alana Jackson), as his new secretary, where his interviewing techniques include trying to seduce her with a full examination. During the interview process his wife – Mrs Prentice (played by Holly Smith), arrives after a night in a local hotel with the bellboy – Nicholas Beckett (played by Alex Cardall), who follows Mrs Prentice, to the clinic, to blackmail her with some photographs taken during the night. Dr Rance (played by Jack Lord) suddenly arrives as the completely manic government inspector. Throwing in the mix the police with Sergeant Match (played by Jon-Paul Rowden) looking for the bellboy and a missing part from a statue of Winston Churchill.

The farce is slick with plenty of doors for the swift entrances and exits, undressing, swapping clothes and great one liners with lots of physical comedy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Orton’s script is firmly set in the culture of the sixties and it will have been a play which would probably have shocked many of the audiences at the time. For a modern audience they may will feel uncomfortable at some of the attitudes portrayed. We did leave the theatre, not only thinking about the excellent cast, intricate and well-crafted script and the fast-paced farce but also what would have been acceptable or unacceptable and what would have been like for Joe Orton during his life and what message he was portraying.

If you enjoy a well-paced farce, with slick acting and thought-provoking discussions on the way home, head to Darlington Hippodrome until Saturday 22nd June. 

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

This week’s paper is out now

Next Post

Amelia overcomes surgery to volunteer in New York

ADVERTISEMENT
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

Most popular

CLEANING UP: Josh Jenkins and Pauline Connelly look on as George O’Brien hands over the litter-picking equipment to Laura Drew

Anti-litterbugs gear up for work

May 8, 2025
CRAG POND: Wild swimming sessions have been set up by new owners Abi Atkinson, pictured, and husband Rob through their Wilderness Company

Connecting to nature with ‘human rewilding’ vision

May 12, 2025
SINGING SUPPORT: Affinity Community Rock Choir leader Jane O’Byrne-West and Claire Jefferies, with Hilary Rabbett, are ready to sing up a storm to raise money to help George

Raised voices will boost Get George Home appeal

May 11, 2025
Sealed with a kiss: Phoebe Lorenz as Viola de Lessops and poster girl for The Castle Players’ summer outdoor production, Shakespeare in Love

Forsooth, players prepare for Shakespeare in Love

May 13, 2025
BRIGHT LIGHTS: Mock-up of how an illuminated artwork proposed for the museum grounds would be sited in the grounds

Plan for ‘light art’ to visit museum grounds

May 14, 2025
Solemn Procession: Astley Fenwick carries the cross on the Walk of Witness followed by Revd Dr Ana Moskvina-Baldwin, Jan Thompson, Revd Canon Alec Harding and Fr Thomas Mason

Good Friday’s Walk of witness

May 10, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

15C Harmire Enterprise Park
Barnard Castle
Co Durham
DL12 8BN

Email: editor@teesdalemercury.co.uk

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190

VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • Art & Leisure
  • Business
  • Country Life
  • Features
  • News
  • Sport
  • Test Drive
  • Digital edition

Useful links

  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Buy your paper
  • Photosales
  • Digital edition
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Features
  • Test Drive
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Art & Leisure
  • Buy your paper
  • Buy our photos
  • Digital edition
  • Contact

© 2024