Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce "What the Butler Saw" opened yesterday, November 23, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. "What the Butler Saw" continues through December 21. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!
The acclaimed cast includes Frances Barber (Ophelia in "Hamlet" and Marguerite in "Camille" at Royal Shakespeare Company), Sarah Manton (Broadway's "One Man, Two Guvnors"), Angus McEwan ("The Duchess"), Rod McLachlan (Broadway's "Holiday," "The Government Inspector" and "Our Town"), Charles Shaughnessy (best known for CBS' "The Nanny") and Paxton Whitehead (Broadway's "Importance of Being Earnest," "My Fair Lady" and "Noises Off").
"What the Butler Saw" is directed by farce veteran and Orton expert John Tillinger, who previously directed the Orton plays "Loot" and "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" in repertory at the Taper (1987). Set design is by James Noone, costume design is by Laurie Churba Kohn, lighting design is by Ken Billington and John McKernon, sound design is by John Gromada, wigs and hair are by Carol F. Doran, casting is by Mark B. Simon, CSA, and the production stage manager is David S. Franklin.
Set in the consulting room of a private psychiatric clinic, the action begins when the very proper Dr. Prentice (played by Shaughnessy) is interrupted by his wife (Barber) just as he is about to seduce a beautiful young woman who is applying for a job as a secretary (Manton). As his botched efforts to conceal his actions spiral outrageously out of control, Orton ferociously skewers psychiatry, religion, marriage, morality, government and definitions of gender.
Photo Credit: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
Cast members Frances Barber, Paxton Whitehead, Charles Shaughnessy, Sarah Manton, Angus McEwan and Rod McLachlan
Cast members Frances Barber, Charles Shaughnessy and Sarah Manton
Cast members Frances Barber, Charles Shaughnessy and Sarah Manton
Cast members Frances Barber and Paxton Whitehead
Cast members Rod McLachlan, Sarah Manton and Angus McEwan
Cast members Frances Barber, Paxton Whitehead and Rod McLachlan
Cast members Frances Barber, Paxton Whitehead, Rod McLachlan with actress Sharon Lawrence
Cast members Paxton Whitehead and Charles Shaughnessy
Cast members Frances Barber and Sarah Manton
Cast members Frances Barber and Paxton Whitehead
Actress Jemima Rooper and cast members Frances Barber and Sarah Manton
Actress Jemima Rooper and cast member Sarah Manton
Actress Jemima Rooper and cast member Sarah Manton
Cast member Angus McEwan and actress Sharon Lawrence
Susan Fallender, cast member Charles Shaughnessy and actress Sharon Lawrence
Actor Harry Groener and cast member Charles Shaughnessy
Cast members Sarah Manton and Angus McEwan
Cast members Sarah Manton and Angus McEwan
Actor Harry Groener and cast member Paxton Whitehead
Actors Harry Groener and Jim Piddock pose with cast member Paxton Whitehead
Director John Tillinger and cast member Angus McEwan
Actor Simon Jones and cast member Rod McLachlan
Director John Tillinger and BLITHE SPIRIT Director Michael Blakemore
Director John Tillinger and BLITHE SPIRIT Director Michael Blakemore
Cast members Angus McEwan and Rod McLachlan
Actor Simon Jones and wife Nancy Lewis
Actor Eric Idle
Actor Eric Idle
Actors Dawn Didawick and Harry Groener
Actor Hamish Linklater
Actor Hamish Linklater
Actor John Glover
Actress Sharon Lawrence
Actress Nicholle Tom
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