Wooster Sauce
by Inspired by the work of Edward Duke and P.G. Wodehouse
Bertie’s new valet seems to be perfection in a morning suit but what has happened to Uncle Willoughby’s scandalous memoirs? What will happen when Bertie suddenly wants to marry? Only the inimitable Jeeves can extract his master from the soup. Ripping entertainment from Fringe veteran John D. Huston (A Christmas Carol) inspired by the world wide hit “Carry On, Jeeves”.
NOTE: There are no more advance tickets for the Friday June 27th performance.
Limited tickets available at the door. Come early.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Oops! I should have written “Thursday” night, not “Friday”. Only four shows and I’m already having trouble keeping track of the day of the week.
June 20th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Of John D. Huston’s many performances (”A Christmas Carol”, “Creeping Murmur, Pouring Dark”, “The Flying Bull and Other Tales”, “St. Nicholas”, “Underneath the Lintel”, “Shylock”, “Kind Hearts and Coronets”), “Wooster Sauce” is closest to “Three Men in a Boat”.
This is summer theatre. A simple comedy. No redeeming social value. No deep moral or political messages.
Huston often appropriates the work of “Old, dead, white guys”. In this case it’s P.G. Wodehouse.
With one on-stage costume change, Huston performs two Wodehouse stories: one from the perspective of Bertie Wooster, and one from that of Jeeves. Regardless, of perspective or costume, Huston plays all characters, Bertie in tenor head voice, Jeeves in chocolaty baritone, and the ladies in falsetto.
Thursday night’s modest audience (around 25) laughed in the right places and provided a warm welcome for opening night. Laughter was particularly sustained for Bertie’s deer-in-the-headlights look when he… (sorry no spoilers here).
Gentle humour for ungentle times. Not the social commentary of “A Christmas Carol”. Not the terror of “Creeping Murmur, Pouring Dark” and “St. Nicholas”. Not the ribaldry of “The Flying Bull and Other Tales”.
Just a balm for the soul.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Let me start by saying, the library at Arts Court is small. People had to be turned away from the Sunday 6:30pm show. So get there early and stay in line untl the doors open. I was in the back row. I did some shucking and jiving to see… but I did hear every wonderful moment! Mr. Huston is a delightful story teller. There is something so likeable about this man with the many dialects and affectations. I espeically loved the resonant lower tones of ” Jeeves”. And the physical look of “Bertie’s” Uncle. I am so glad I have finally had a chance to enjoy a John D. Huston show. Congrats!
June 25th, 2008 at 5:59 am
An excellent show. No nudity; no swearing; no music; no pyrotechnics
or silly string - just delightful language and characters.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Heads up, folks. Get in line early.
I hear that advance tickets for tonight’s show (Friday 27th) are sold out.
Half the tickets will still be available at the venue. But it’s first come, first served. Tickets go on sale at 18:15 for tonight’s 19:30 show.
I repeat: get in line early.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:37 am
[...] comedy (Blackadder, Yes Minister, etc), one generally expects at least two actors to be involved. Wooster Sauce defies this expectation, with John D. Huston playing master, servant, and all other characters [...]