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| Program Cover |
By Jeffrey Hatcher
Review By Ernest Edwards
Park Square is closing their 50th Season with the new play The Butler Did It, by Jeffrey Hatcher. I was at opening night, and what an exceptional “who done it” this new play is. You are probably thinking, doesn’t the title give it away? Not really. In an effort not give any spoilers, the play takes place at the Portman School for Gentlemen’s Gentlemen in the spring of 1975 San Francisco. It’s a school for butlers.
I learned a new phrase from the information in the lobby displays and the program. This mystery is called an inverted mystery. Where we the audience sees the crime happen on stage and then we watch the cast as they try to solve the murder.
Jeffrey Hatcher has another great play for his catalogue. The Butler Did It has excellent story. The language in the script is superb. Between the situations and the character growth, and will get they get the murderer by the end? It’s all great stuff. Definitely keeps you engaged the entire time.
The cast is also a good selection of a who’s who of the Twin Cities Theatre scene. Nicholas Lane is played
by Peter Christian Hansen, Emma is played by Anna Beth Baker, Tony is played by Neal Beckman, Merriman is played by Pearce Bunting, Portman is played by Steve Hendrickson, Lady Caroline is played by Norah Long, and Inspector Denise is played by Allison Vincent. Allison Vincent as Inspector Denise is the actress to keep an eye on during this play. She has some of best moments and adds some comedy to this play. I feel like she knows who the murderer is, but she has to play a game to catch the killer.
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| The cast, Dan Norman Photography |
The gorgeous scenery for this play is designed by Benjamin Olsen, who also designed the scenery for Park Square’s previous show A Chorus Line. The costumes designed by Matthew Lefebvre are great! I also really like the Lighting Design by Karin Olson for this play. There were some moments in the play, where the lighting design had some good moments.
Park Square has a hit on their hands with the World Premiere of this summer mystery The Butler Did It. Run to the theatre and catch this show. It plays through August 16, 2026. Check out www.parksquaretheatre.org for tickets.
