Happy Times—Imago Theatre—radio play, on demand

 

What the Butler…Didn’t See

    This absurdist, 50 minutedark comedy, was written and directed by Carol Triffle, and produced by Jerry Mouawad.  Sound and court voices by Kyle Delamarter and Jon Farley.   For more information, contact carol@imagotheatre.com

    It seems that Trudy’s (Danielle Vermette) home is really a playground for murder, and her friends, Gladys (Laura Loy) and Judy (Amy Katrina Bryan) are willing participants in this annual, little game that has been going on for years.  Only member of this group that must change every year is the victim because…well, he dies at the end.  But not to despair, he does have a value as he becomes fertilizer forTrudy’s garden.  And, besides, what’s a little murder among friends?!

    Only fly in the ointment this time, is that the victim, the lover/butler of Trudy, Corey (Matt Sunderland) refuses to stay dead…really bad form, ole chum.  And it seems that the courts have no sense of humor about it, as they decided to try the case,anyway.

    The D.A., Mister B. (Randy Bynum) does a remarkable job of grilling the suspects, as well as the intended victim.  All goes swimmingly, hot tub not withstanding, as he details of the “alleged” crime.  Alleged because the intended victim was, indeed, almost killed but from a car accident he had when being confrontedby a a tree…so why not put the tree on trial, instead of these misunderstood ladies?!

    I choose not to give away details for the supposed attempted murder…so that you can decide for yourselves.  Although, I do confess, I usually will take the woman’s point of view over a man’s in most circumstances, as womenare often mild, pleasant, albeit a bit peevish in some instances (as the Bard might concur), as in this one, perhaps.

    This does have a haunting, and loving flavor to it, as a noir-type comedy, as scribed by Triffle.  The actors, too, are obviously having fun with it.  It compares favorably to Dr. Cook’s Garden and, as mentioned in the play, to Hitchcock’s brilliant, “Rope.”  All the more pleasurable (and safer) for you, the listener, to be safely seated, absorbing the chills inwardly, vicariously, while letting the outside world go mad!  I recommend this play.

--DJS