'WHAT The Butler Saw', currently on at Salisbury Playhouse, sadly wasn't my cup of tea.

The play, by 1960s avant garde playwright, Joe Orton, is a farce set in the examining room of Dr Prentice (Kenneth Price), whose interest in his patients is far from clinical.

When this physician, his wife, (Melanie Jessop), his prospective secretary, (Natalie Grady), a government medical inspector, (Christopher Good), a policeman, (Barry Aird), and a bellboy from a dubious hotel, (Michael Camp), collide all sorts of shenanigans ensue.

Skeletons positively tumble out of the closet and the cases of mistaken identity, the search for Winston Churchill's private parts, hints of transvestism, and multiple personality pile up at breakneck speed.

On the surface this play sounds like it should be a laugh a minute, but for me there was only the odd chuckle.

There were some sharp lines every now and then which enticed some guffaws from the audience, who it has to be said seemed to thoroughly enjoy the show, but on the whole the script was unsophisticated and brash, a poor man's Alan Bennett.

The pace was indeed fast and furious and so were the double entendres, which due to their frequency and on occasions, lewdness, lost their potency for me.

The best performances came from the two younger members of the cast, played by Natalie Grady and Michael Camp, and drugged policeman Barry Aird. Their delivery was clear, slick and well timed.

Kenneth Price gave an enthusiastic portrayal of the lustful Dr Prentice, but his performance wasn't quite convincing enough.

In my opinion the director, Salisbury Playhouse's own artistic director, Philip Wilson, and the cast didn't really do anything wrong. It was the primitive and brusque sentiment of the script that let them down.

Orton's play was probably shocking in its day, however, today it is a bit of a disappointment.

'What The Butler Saw' runs until Saturday, May 24. LG.

11:08am Friday 9th May 2008

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