Idle jest comes off

Press, 19 June 1986, Page 8

Idle jest comes off

“PASS THE BUTLER,” for the Elmwood Players at The Playhouse, June 18, 8 p.m. Running time: 1 hour 50 minutes. Directed by Doug Clarke. Reviewed by Michael O’Brien. From the pen of Eric Idle, this script shows all the bizarre burlesque of the best of “Monty Python.” It is a perfect example also of the best of British humour, whereby a simple (albeit strange) situated is developed to its ludicrous limits. The result is teasing, mindboggling and terribly funny. The “simple” situation, without giving too much away, is the presence (or absence?) of the Lord of the Manor on a life-sup-port system fuelled by the night storage. Members of the family have great difficulty in referring to him right tense. Cer® tairily he presents protß’

lems for the typical aristocratic family who are typically financially embarrassed. He is not even tax-deductible. And so the plot thickens ... and thickens. Grant Nicoll is the aptly named Butler, to whom the word “service” means much more than handing round a tray of drinks. Nicoll is one of the strong pillars of the play as the irrepressible, straightbacked butler who looks down his nose and outquips his betters. Chrissy Brosnahan is the other, suitably imperious and effusive as Lady Charles with the right note of disdainful snobbery. Opening night was rather chilling in terms of temperature and this may have contributed to a somewhat slow start by most of the cast. But vagueness of accent and some blurred projection were overcome as the

comedy carried them through. The script is brilliantly funny, and the satire as searing as one might expect from such an irreverent comic. The class system, money, police, politicians, press and even (the once) Great Britain herself are humbled by many a one-liner. Eventually, the rather large family cupboard reveals skeletons of astonishing proportions (or statistics). If Idle borrows from other playrights he determines to outdo them thoroughly.’ “The Importance of Being Ernest” looks like, a children’s bedtime story after this. Inspector Harris’s flatly delivered line, “I must ask to see your bottom, sir” may evoke some of the gritty flavour. This is an enjoyable evening’s entertainment that is sure to please, especially if witty, British comedies are your bent.