It’s been 40 years since Butley was first written by Simon Gray back in the early 1970s and it is safe to say that it’s probably his best known play to date. As a testament to that fact, an anniversary production is now showing at the Duchess Theatre in London, directed by Lindsay Posner and designed by Peter McKintosh.
Dominic West, famed for his role in HBO’s The Wire fills Butley’s shoes with the same dark humour and vile tongue as his predecessors – delivering sharp one-liners and snide put-downs just as Simon Gray intended with the original character.
For those not familiar with Butley, the story centres on Ben Butley – an alcoholic English University lecturer with problems; A rocky marriage, broken friendships and a never-ending disgust for his students. Butley is in full self-destruct mode and he’s taking everyone with him.
“The extraordinary thing about Butley, it still seems to me, is that the play gives us a character who hurls himself towards the destruction while living, in the fever of his intellectual hell, with a vitality and brilliance known too few of us.” (Harold Pinter)
Butley is a clever, witty, black comedy which the majority of people will enjoy, but academics and students will revel in. Dominic West adds his own spin to the character, adding a new edge and welcome style. You’ll both love and hate Butley and in all likelihood will leave the theatre feeling doubtful whether he’ll ever get his life in order.
The supporting cast gel well and the whole play comes together magnificently – a homage to Simon Gray’s original work. Yet another thoroughly enjoyable night out at the theatre.
Find out more about Butley on Simon Gray’s website, see the official Butley site or follow the play on Twitter – @ButleyLondon.
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