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Jeeves Intervenes
Adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether
Based on P.G. Wodehouse’s “Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg”
Directed by Alison C. Vesely, SSDC
Produced by First Folio Shakespeare Festival
At Mayslake Peabody Estate
31st St. & Rt. 83
Oak Brook, IL
Call 630-986-8067, tickets $26 - $21 students/seniors
Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through March 2, 2008
Hilarious Jeeves drawing room comedy of manners worth seeing
First Folio Shakespeare Festival, run by husband and wife team of Alison C. Vesely (director) and David Rice (producer/stage manager), has expanded their summer outdoor Shakespeare works with a smart selection of chamber pieces that work nicely in the intimate theatre in the Mayslake Peabody Estate. Their latest work, Margaret Raether’s crisp adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeever Intervenes is a master work of drawing room comedy. The five Equity actors, most with impressive classical theatre credits, offer energetic comedic turns that combine smart work play with astute physical comedy. This show is full of belly laughs as the players brilliantly poke fun at the 1920’s British Upper Class in the breezy satirical style of P.G. Wodehouse.
Jim McCance, as the wily, always in control, Jeeves, anchors the show. McCance is superb with his underplayed comedic turns. Whenever his master, Bertie Wooster (Christian Gray at his bumbling funniest) gets into hapless situations, Jeeves calmly has the answer and/or the right line or strategy. Bertie has all kinds of problems as his indomitable Aunt Agatha (Jill Shellabarger)—the dominantly mean relative is obsessed with keeping the family name going. Therefore, Bertie needs to “breed” and Aunt Agatha decides Bertie should marry Getrude (Lydia Berger) so she can “train” him. Bertie loves being a playful bachelor. What to do? Ask Jeeves.
Enter Eustace Bassington-Bassington (Kevin McKillip in a zany performance), Bertie’s school chum who is also a dim-witted yet lovable character troubled by his uncle Sir Rupert (Roger Mueller) who wants to cut off his allowance unless he works at something. Eustace (Bassie) and Bertie are determined not to ever change, especially if that means working! Heavens forbid! Jeeves to the rescue.When Sir Rupert arrives in London, Bassie asks Bertie to let allow Sir Rupert to think that Bertie’s flat is his own. Bertie agrees but when Aunt Agatha and Gertrude arrive, trouble begins.
Bassie instantly becomes smitten with Gertrude and Rupert and Agatha are former “friends.” The mayhem that follows, always quietly arranged by Jeeves, is smartly plotted with Gray and McKillip doing some hilarious psychical comedy.The result is two hours of laughs and more laughs.
This is a terrific escapist evening of theatre—just the ticket on a cold winter night. The cast demonstrates the strength of the Chicago acting pool. You’d be hard pressed to see a funnier, better performed show for only $26 per ticket.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2008
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