Review: 'Butley'

By Tom Bonnington,

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The rarely performed gem by Simon Grey was a suitable choice for the Drama Barn’s latest comedy drama, ‘Butley’. First performed in 1971, with Alan Bates taking the lead role, the play shows the self-destruction of an academic’s relationships with all those dear to him, including his wife, best friend and current students. The play’s intellectually stimulating script along with the larger than life character of Butley make this a hugely enjoyable play when performed to its full potential and this production can stand as one of the Barn’s best this term.

Dan Wood, who plays Butley, gives a sensational performance, never leaving the stage and having countless lines. Every mannerism he gave fitted in with the character he portrayed and there was never a moment where he seemed to tire or lose focus. With the play running at just under two hours, his dynamism as an actor is seen through his seeming control over what was happening on stage. Playing such an arrogant, unpleasant person, he shines at dealing with his interactions with the other more submissive characters. It would be no stretch to say that playing Butley is the most difficult part given at the Barn this term and Wood becomes the character with such visible effortlessness that it’s clear he has a future in drama.

While you will walk out the Barn talking about Wood’s performance, the other actors deserve to be praised too. Grey’s script has the brilliance to know that in order for Butley to reach his full comic potential, the other characters should affect different parts of his personality. Freddie Elletson delivers a classy performance as Butley’s friend, Joey, understanding his character is meant to take a back seat to Butley’s antics while giving his character warmth and depth that makes the audience empathise with him. Claire Curtis-Ward and Pete Watts also give memorable cameos that instil hilarious yet tragic moments for Butley to handle.

With its simple set and enjoyable characters, it’s a wonder why students do not perform this play more often. The character of Butley can give an actor a chance to demonstrate his full abilities to an audience, who will enjoy the rapid-fire dialogue and amusing situations. The director, Adam Alcock, should be very proud of what he has achieved.

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