About the work
What the Butler Saw is a farce by the British playwright Joe Orton, his last completed work. He began writing it in 1966 and finished it in July 1967, one month before his death. It premiered posthumously on 5 March 1969 at the Queen's Theatre in London.
Plot
Psychiatrist Dr Prentice tries to talk his job applicant Geraldine into undressing during her interview and has to hide her behind a curtain when his wife arrives. But Mrs Prentice is leading a double life of her own and is being blackmailed by her lover Nicholas. When government inspector Dr Rance arrives to examine the clinic, the ensuing chaos of swapped identities and clothing escalates to an absurd climax.
Cultural significance
The farce is regarded as the high point of Orton's blend of screwball comedy and unsparing social satire; later revivals gave early major roles to actors including Kate Winslet and David Tennant.