John Dorney plays Doctor Prentice in London Classic Theatre’s UK tour of Joe Orton’s farcical masterpiece, “What the Butler Saw.”
Michael Cabot, the founder and Artistic Director of London Classic Theatre, directs Alex Cardall (Nicholas Beckett), John Dorney (Doctor Prentice), Alana Jackson (Geraldine Barclay), Jack Lord (Doctor Rance), Jon-Paul Rowden (Sergeant Match) and Holly Smith (Mrs Prentice).
What The Butler Saw is touring until 27th July, listings and ticket information can be found here.
You’re currently touring “What the Butler Saw”, what can you tell us about the show?
It’s a fast and furious farce that’s the last play from the mighty brain of Joe Orton. It’s a little bit crazy, a little bit offensive, and a lot funny.
Joe Orton’s works are known for their dark humour and satirical edge. How does “What the Butler Saw” reflect these elements?
The show takes no prisoners in what it’s willing to joke about. But its main targets are power and hypocrisy in a way that’s still sadly relevant today.
Can you share your experience of playing Doctor Prentice and how you prepared for this role?
Prentice is the spine of the play so it was mainly just a question of reading and rereading the play and being constantly on top of where he was in the action. But there was also a lot of reading around the text, looking at critical appraisal of Orton and his works to understand the context it was written in and finding ways to make it relevant to today.
How has the cast dynamic influenced the performance, especially given the farcical nature of the play?
The pace and timing of the piece is critical so it’s vital that we’re all in sync and working as a team. Fortunately you couldn’t find a better or more supportive group of actors to be a part of. You can go out there fully trusting that every time you throw the ball it’s going to come back to you and if anything it means I’ve got the best seats in the house every night.
What do you think makes Joe Orton’s humour still relevant and engaging for modern audiences?
I think if a play is coming from a good and intelligent place it becomes a living, breathing thing, changing with the times. The points he makes are still relevant and decent and true but also riddled with wit and that never goes out of fashion. I imagine the reaction in our more socially aware times is different from how it would have been at the premiere but the underlying truth remains.
What would you say to anyone thinking of booking to see “What the Butler Saw”?
I’d stay stop thinking and book it. There really is nothing quite like it in theatre, a meta-farce that challenges you on all levels whilst making you laugh. Where all other farces end, this one begins and you’ll have the time of your life being offended.
