between us because of our life
experiences outside of the roles
we’re playing,” he explains. “So,
it allows both ourselves, the rest
of the cast, and the director to
know they can put us in extraor-
dinary positions very quickly in
the rehearsal process and we
will thrive from that and support
the piece.”
Other than the rare opportu-
nity to see Joe Orton’s work on
stage, Peter believes people will
enjoy the play’s witty and biting
dialogue — reminiscent of Oscar
Wilde - and the way the play re-
mains rather shocking.
“It’s like Benny Hill and Oscar
Wilde put together and slapped
on to the front pages of the New
York Times as the most shock-
ing event that’s ever happened,”
said Peter. “It’s an enormous
tragedy that surrounds this play
having first been performed after
Joe Orton was murdered in such
a gruesome way by his long time
partner and lover. I can imagine
that when this was first put on
there was enormous joy and ela-
tion for being able to do such a
great and intricately structured
play that was so biting and on
the edge. But, at the same time,
enormous sadness that the world
had lost a great playwright.”
w
Peter Simon Hilton and
Vanessa Morosco star
in What The Butler Saw
September 6 - October 1
The Shakespeare Theatre
of New Jersey
36 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ
NJ STAGE 2017 - Vol. 4 No. 8
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