Never Mind the Butler

A queue had formed outside the village hall, on this warm summer’s evening, as theatre goers waited for the doors to open on this, the third and final performance of NATS’s summer production.

We received a friendly welcome before being accompanied to our seats. The audience was seated at tables which were nicely dressed with white cloths and a small vase of fresh flowers.  

Andy McMillan, officially the prompt for the evening, performed the obligatory housekeeping notices and then proceeded to whip up the audience to a degree where we were clapping and cheering before the curtains had even opened!  What a great way to start the evening.

This play was new to me but, having read the synopsis prior to my visit, I knew we were about to be transported into the world of the aristocracy, just prior to the outbreak of WW1, when high jinks in the upper classes appeared to be the norm and gambling away the family pile, almost a rite of passage.

Stuart Savill, as Travers the butler, introduced the play from in front of the curtain. He is writing his memoirs and explained that what we were about to see is the story so far. Suitably attired in black morning coat and striped trousers, here was a man who remained uptight throughout the evening, while at times struggling to keep control of his feelings.  His giveaway was his wonderful facial expressions, allowing us a glimpse of the person behind the façade. Brilliant!

There were good performances all round in this production. Will Murray was Lord Uppington, having to break the news to his family that, not for the first time, he had gambled away their stately home. Yvonne Hannant was Lady Uppington, the not exactly faithful wife, while their daughters Elizabeth and Marjorie were well played by Lizzie McMillan and Becky Monk.  Elizabeth, deemed to be the more glamourous, refuses to be married off to the wealthy, but rather strange, Lord Ramrod. Well done to Suran Jayathilaka on his comedic portrayal of this character. Marjorie, meanwhile, prefers to wear trousers in an era when any suggestion of a leg beyond the ankle was still taboo for ladies.

Jacqueline Pullen was excellent as the Dowager Duchess, fond of a tipple or three whilst reminding Travers of her 30 year unconsummated passion for him, suggesting they should have had an affair long ago. Steve Dunn was the rather indiscrete Dr.Trepanning, his conversation splattered with unintentional innuendos and Tina Battleday was Mrs Trepanning. Two good performances.

Housekeeper Miss Kent was nicely played by Tracey Murray, while Jo Bytham as Mrs Purvis the Cook and Kate Featherstone as Poppy the Kitchen Maid completed the downstairs line-up.

A hermit living in the maze for the past 10 years, a daughter turning to prostitution in times of need, all rounded off by a body in the basement. You just couldn’t make it up, although of course the brilliant Lou Treleaven did exactly that.

The action takes place variously in the drawing room, the study and the kitchen and the scenery had been cleverly designed to incorporate all three in a fold out set, which worked very well. This and the well chosen stage props were swiftly moved into place during scene changes by crew dressed as staff at the house.  A nice touch.  Costumes throughout were good and of the period.

Judging by their spontaneous outbursts of applause throughout the evening and the rousing ovation at the end, the audience obviously enjoyed this hilarious and well directed farce, as did we.

Well done NATS and thank you for inviting me.

 

 

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