"Pass the Butler’

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 20

"Pass the Butler’

; Elmwood Players have" scored a New Zealand 1 premiere for its next production which begins a two week run at the Play- ; house today. The play, “Pass The ' Butler,” is the first from the pen of Eric Idle, best known to New Zealand • audiences as a member of • the team that created Monty Python’s Flying Circus. “Pass The Butler” was • first staged in London in 1982 and concerns the strange relationships ; within the family of Sir Robert Charles, Minister

of Defence. It follows the Monty Python type of verbal humour as the action moves from the breakfast “body count” to sherry and the “switching-off ceremony. The relationships of Sir Robert’s family become more and more complicated. The cast comprises several new faces to the Christchurch stage. Chrissie Brosnahan as Lady Charles and Jenner O’Rourke as Annabelle have previously acted on North Taieri and Oamaru stages. John Boyce as Slater is making his acting

debut. Gregg Lovatt, Nigel, is making his second appearance at Elmwood, having recently arrived from Timaru, and Grant Nlcoll who plays the implacable butler is in his second stage role. Charles Jones, Hugo, is another new face to Christchurch having previously acted in the North Island. The other cast members, Pearl Carpenter, Kitty; Keith Cooke, Ronnie; and Max Sullivan, Harris; are all well known to Christchurch theatre-goers. The play is directed by Doug Clarke.