Murder can be funny, and The Butler Did It is the perfect example of this absurd notion. Written by Tim Kelly, the play is a parody of every English mystery ever written, a hilarious spoof that will entertain Tulip Time crowds in Holland.
The play is a "whodunit" set off the coast of San Francisco on a small foggy island. Miss Maple, a widowed mystery writer with a reputation for throwing weekend parties, lives on the eerie isle. When she invites some of the most well-known mystery authors to a party at her manor for a weekend of "jolly fun and financial reward," she tells them to come disguised as the main character from their book. However, when a real murder occurs, the impersonators lack in sleuthing skills compared to their fictional counterparts. Zany twists follow as the plot unfolds to reveal a surprise ending.
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The Butler Did It
Holland Civic Theatre May 1, and 4-8 at 7 p.m., and May 2 at 2 p.m. $20 tuliptime.com, (616) 396-4221
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"Everything is played so straight," said Josh Guerrin, the play's director. "No one acts like they're a character or like there's anything odd about the way they're behaving- but they're all having a weekend party while there's a dead man in the basement."
Dim-witted at best, the characters play off each other's stupidity with humorous effect. When one of them realizes, after the fact, that someone's been murdered, he cries out, "He's actually dead! He's really dead!" However, the rest of the group knows this and does not much seem to care.
Guerrin likened The Butler Did It to the comedies of Mel Brooks.
"It's very much a smart, sophisticated comedy," Guerrin said. "It's littered with pop culture references - older ones mostly - but I really like entertainment like that where there's little Easter eggs for the audience to pick up on."
While Tulip Time brings in hordes of people of all ages, Guerrin says he still expects the audience to be a mostly "older crowd".
"Just because it's Holland, it tends to be an older town," said Guerrin. "And the references in the show tend to be older references."
With a large ensemble cast of 10, whose ages range from 19 to 50, the play has something to entertain everyone.
"It's a character piece, so if one isn't your cup of tea, there might be two or three others that you enjoy," said Guerrin. "It runs the gambit."
"There is an Agatha Christie movie called Murder by Death and it's almost identical in every way to this play," said Guerrin.
Other Theatre Events
May Day Celebration
Warren Townsend Park, 8280 6 Mile Rd., Cannonsburg
May 1, 6-9 p.m.
$10 adults/$5 kids 12 and under
heritagetheatregr.org, (616) 451-2600
Join the Heritage Theatre Group to kick off spring the old-fashioned way: complete with strolling minstrels, roaming singers, an acting troupe, food, beer and games for the whole family. No May Day celebration would be complete without a may pole and the crowning of a new King and Queen.
Rent
Circle Theatre, 1607 Robinson Road SE, Grand Rapids
May 6-8, 12-16, and 19-22, 7:30 p.m., $25
circletheatre.org, (616) 456-6656
The Drawer Boy
Actors' Theatre, 143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids
May 13-15 & 20-22, $22
actorstheatregrandrapids.com, (616) 234-3595
Meet Miles, a young actor from a Toronto theatre group who plants himself on a small farm in Ontario circa 1972 to research farm life for a new play. The subjects of Miles' study are Morgan and Angus, two elderly bachelors. Morgan, a stubborn man, cares for Angus, who suffers from brain damage and lost memory during World War II. However, Angus' memory is awakened when Miles retells (in play form) the true story of the men in play form. Written by Michael Healy, the play is based on the history of the creation of alternative Canadian theatre and The Farm Show. The Drawer Boy is about the power of story telling and creating as well as interpreting reality and the way it can transform lives.
