Displaying items by tag: Margaret Raether

Jeeves has returned and the ever-loyal valet is just waiting to get wealthy Londoner Bertie Wooster out of trouble – again. Quick-witted, reliable and extremely resourceful, Jeeves first order of business is always to keep a close eye on his charming and oft adventurous employer, Bertie, but in First Folio’s current production ‘Jeeves Saves the Day,’ he is tested to the fullest when Aunt Agatha and Cousin Egbert Bakewell enter the mix.

In the fifth play adapted by playwright Margaret Raether based on the ‘Jeeves’ stories created by P.G. Wodehouse (which began in 1915), chaos is afoot when Bertie desperately wants out of a marriage commitment. Rigid and stubborn Aunt Agatha will hear nothing or the sort. It’s going to take a small miracle for Bertie to get out of this one since the haughty Sir Roderick Glossip is the father of the bride to be. It doesn’t help that Cousin Egbert, loveable as he may be, is a handful of trouble and is hiding at Bertie’s home despite the family sending him to South Africa. Egbert is love-stricken after all, when a night out before his expected departure instead has him fawning over the sexy club singer Red Hot Maisie Dawson. He has no plans of going abroad now. It’s a frenzied mess and Jeeves is the only hope in restoring order to the family.

Jim McCance is a pleasure to watch as our hero, Jeeves. McCance’s droll and deadpan approach serves the character perfectly and he is a strong presence on the stage – a picture of stability amongst the disarray. Bertie is played by veteran actor and Chicago favorite Christian Gray. Gray is as dependable as it gets and delivers a remarkable performance once again. This is McCance and Gray’s fifth time performing together as the comical pair and their chemistry couldn’t be better. The two polished actors anchor a fantastic cast that includes Lucinda Johnston as Aunt Agatha, Sean Sinitski as Sir Roderick Glossop and Almanya Narula as Red Hot Maisie Dawson. Dan Klarer makes his First Folio debut as Egbert Bakewell and -wowza - does he leave an impression! Klarer’s hysterical portrayal of Egbert is something to behold. A throwback to The Marx Brothers, Three Stooges and the likes of Oliver Hardy, Klarer steals scenes throughout the entire production with one funny antic after another. Klarer not only gets to display his well-timed, comedic line delivery but coupled with a genuine knack for physical comedy, he is a force to be reckoned with. No shortage of talent here with this superb cast. 

With an arsenal of such talent at his disposal, Director Joe Foust impeccably places all the pieces together to give us an engaging production that is entertaining from the word “Go”. Performed at the impressive Mayslake Peabody Estate, ‘Jeeves Saves the Day’ is a splendid stage presentation that everyone can enjoy.

‘Jeeves Saves the Day’ is being performed at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oakbrook through March 1st. For tickets and/or more information, visit www.firstfolio.org.

Christian Gray and Jim McCance pair up once again for another Jeeves adventure, this time in Margaret Raether’s latest adaption from the stories of P.G. Wodehouse “Jeeves At Sea”. Gray, who was simply tremendous in his last First Folio appearance in “The Madness of Edgar Allen Poe”, this time plays the lovable, but somewhat dim-witted Bertie who has come to rely on the wisdom of his ever faithful manservant Jeeves (McCance), who faithfully provides sound advice never daring to crack the slightest of smiles. Paired to perfection, modestly said, McCance and Gray are nothing less than terrific together.

The play is performed at First Folio Theatre’s home, the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oakbrook, where it doesn’t take much too imagine a “Jeeves” presence to exist.  

The story takes place aboard a yacht that is anchored off the coast of Monte Carlo, which is owned by Lady Stella Vanderlay, to whom Bertie has proposed to on multiple occasions. Miss Minerva Pilbeam is Stella’s paid companion and is secretly doting over Jeeves, while Stella is having too much fun as the object of affection of several suitors to fully commit to a lovesick Bertie. Kate McDermott nails the role of Lady Stella as the roaring 20’s saucy socialite.   

But alas, a mystery has unfolded when Bertie’s best friend Sir Percival Everard Crumpworth (Andrew Behling) confesses that he may have murdered someone while being blind drunk the night before – worse yet, he believes it might have been a visiting German prince. Once German heavy Count Otto von Dietrichstein (Joe Foust) starts sniffing around the yacht in search of Percival, a plan is quickly put into action.

Throughout the mystery, which is fun in itself, many humorous situations arise based on several Three’s Company-like misunderstanding’s where one is caught with another at the wrong moment or something is only partially overheard. Alison C. Vesley’s superb direction along with a funny script, timely physically comedy and impeccably delivered dialogue thanks to the show’s collection of talented actors, make “Jeeves At Sea” a charming production that flows seemingly effortlessly through and through.  

This fourth Jeeves installment of Wodehouse’s delightful tales is a thrilling ride from beginning to end with just the right doses of humor and intrigue, but best of all is the genuine connection that is felt by audience members between Jeeves and Bertie, leaving one with the feeling of excitement for what Jeeves adventures may be in store for the future.     

Yet another strong First Folio effort, “Jeeves At Sea” comes highly recommended. Catch “Jeeves At Sea” through February 28^th at the Mayslake Peabody Estate located near 31^st Street and 83 in Oakbrook. For tickets and/or more play information visit www.firstfolio.org or call 630-986-8067.