What the Butler Saw (A Methuen modern play) [Hardcover]

Joe Orton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1969

"Joe Orton's last play, What the Butler Saw, will live to be accepted as a comedy classic of English literature" (Sunday Telegraph) The chase is on in this breakneck comedy of licensed insanity, from the moment when Dr Prentice, a psychoanalyst interviewing a prospective secretary, instructs her to undress. The plot of What the Butler Saw contains enough twists and turns, mishaps and changes of fortune, coincidences and lunatic logic to furnish three or four conventional comedies. But however the six characters in search of a plot lose the thread of the action - their wits or their clothes - their verbal self-possession never deserts them. Hailed as a modern comedy every bit as good as Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Orton's play is regularly produced, read and studied. What the Butler Saw was Orton's final play."He is the Oscar Wilde of Welfare State gentility" (Observer)

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Methuen young books; First Edition edition (May 1969)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0416193900
• ISBN-13: 978-0416193909
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,387,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Naughty Fun, July 3, 2010

By 

Pamela S. Lee "bookworm53" (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What the Butler Saw a Play in Two Acts (Paperback)

People say that Orton is similar to Wilde, but I think he can better be described as a funnier version of Harold Pinter. I enjoyed this play, though I'm not sure I'll read Orton's other work.

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good and unexpected, July 4, 2001

By 

bernie "webviator" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: What the Butler Saw a Play in Two Acts (Paperback)

If you do not read or see any other Orton play, you should not pass on this one. I saw it in the local theater and they pretty much followed the script. I do not want to go into detail as the surprises; twists and dialog are what make the play. However this is a comedy similar to Oscar Wilde's style in the fact that it is a series of mismaners with unique situations and plot twists.

A little info:
The first London performance of "What the butler saw" was at the Queen's Theatre by Lewstein-Delfont Productions Ltd. And H.M. Tennent Ltd. On 5 Mar 1969.