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‘Jeeves’ to the rescue

Posted on May 11, 2018 by Sonoma Valley Sun
Randy St. Jean as Jeeves, and Delaney Brummé as Bertie.
Randy St. Jean as Jeeves, and Delaney Brummé as Bertie.

The works of P.G. Wodehouse set the bar, and then poured the drinks, for the classic British drawing-room comedy. “Jeeves Intervenes” is an artful deco send-up of 20s high society, with the rich, loveable louse and his droll, all-knowing butler with a wit as crisp and dry as a gin martini.

The Sonoma Arts Live production, directed by James Jandak Wood, runs May 11-27.

 

Delaney Brummé, Randy St. Jean, Jennie Brick, Libby Oberlin and Nock Moore.
Delaney Brummé, Randy St. Jean, Jennie Brick, Libby Oberlin and Nock Moore.

 

The play follows hapless playboy Bertie Wooster (Delany Brummé) and his old school chum Eustace Bassington-Bassington (Nick Moore). The two hatch a brilliant plan to dupe their meddling relatives in order to save Bertie from an undesired marriage and Eustace from an unwanted job in India. But will the ever-faithful manservant Jeeves be able to rescue these bumbling fools from themselves?

Sonoma Arts Live’s Education Director Libby Oberlin plays intelligent heartthrob Gertrude Winklesworth-Bode, Larry Williams plays the blustery Scotsman, Sir Rupert Watlington-Pipps, Jennie Brick is the determined and powerful Agatha Spencer-Gregson, and Randy St. Jean stars as Jeeves.

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“Jeeves is in the collective consciousness” says Wood (Chaotic Art of Life, Modern Encounter). Even those who have not read the famous P. G. Wodehouse novels have heard the name Jeeves. “He was Mr. Carson from Downton Abbey long before Downton Abbey, and if Downton Abbey was a cheeky comedy.”

“I saw this play in a small town outside of Victoria, British Columbia and laughed my way through the performance.” Wood said. “It’s witty, cunning, and fun. And when I walked out of the theater my first thought was, ‘Bring this comedy to Sonoma!'”

$22-$37. Andrews Hall, Sonoma Community Center. 816.710.8942. Sonomaartslive.org.

 




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