Joe Orton's dark comedy What the Butler Saw caused a sensation when it premiered in London in 1969.
Orton used the fundamentals of farce such as a fast pace, mistaken identities and escalating complications to expose aspects of society that fester beneath a polite facade.
Actor Peter Holland said the play - opening on Friday at Canberra Rep Theatre - was as relevant as ever. He said although it required the energy, pace and timing of any farce, What the Butler Saw, underneath its humorous surface, explored "a lot of darker issues such as societal hypocrisy and misogyny".
Directed by Liz Bradley, What the Butler Saw is the third production in Rep's truncated 2020 season.
It takes place in a psychiatric clinic. Geraldine Barclay (played by Zoe Swan) has come for a job interview with Dr Prentice (David Cannell). But the sordid and seedy psychiatrist is more interested in seducing the young woman than in her secretarial skills.
When Mrs Prentice (Lainie Hart) turns up unexpectedly, it's only the start of an escalating series of complications, cover-ups and catastrophes that include a blackmailing bellboy, cross-dressing and mistaken identities.
Adding to the frenzy is the arrival of Holland's character, government inspector Dr Rance. Holland said, "He's completely mad... He comes up with a whole load of psychological motivations for everyone's behaviour."
"He's completely mad... He comes up with a whole load of psychological motivations for everyone's behaviour."
Actor Peter Holland
His explanations "are so far off the mark it's comical".
Swan said her character Geraldine was "very sweet, very innocent, fresh out of school and not very privy to the ways of the world".
But Geraldine is soon swept up in a maelstrom of sexual harassment, deception, and madness from which she cannot escape.
Swan said Orton's play dealt with issues such as domestic violence that were starting to be discussed as society changed in the 1960s and remain all too current.
"He does a really good job of holding up a mirror up to society. This is how people do look," Swan said.
"We need to change."
- What the Butler Saw is on Canberra Rep Theatre/Theatre 3 from September 11 to 26, Wednesday to Saturday at 8pm with 2pm matinees on September 19, 20 and 26. Tickets $45, Concession $38, Under 30s $20 (door sales only). Numbers capped at 47. Wait-lists are operating and there is a private viewing lounge ($10 a ticket) available: six people a performance. Bookings by phone only on 6257 1950, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. More information: canberrarep.org.au.
