Today's Joanna Page

Today’s Joanna Page: What the Butler Saw

What the Butler Saw

Today’s Joanna Page is What the Butler Saw, the last play of Joe Orton, which our Joanna appeared in in 2005. And which I didn’t see, of course, so can’t tell you if it was any good, but here’s a review from The Stage. At some point, I’ll get on to watching some more of JP’s movies and do some proper reviews, but work’s a bit busy at the moment.

In What the Butler Saw, Dr Prentice, a psychiatrist, attempts to seduce his prospective secretary, Geraldine Barclay (JP). But his wife is being seduced and blackmailed by Nicholas Beckett. She therefore promises Nicholas the post as secretary, which adds further confusion, including Nicholas and Geraldine dressing as the opposite sex. Dr Prentice’s clinic is then faced by a government inspection. The inspection, led by Dr Rance, reveals the chaos in the clinic.

As you might have guessed, it’s a farce.

The pic above is just about the only pic of JP from the production that I could find (any others gratefully received). So as a special treat, here’s a truly delightful picture of two Ali Larters in Heroes to round it all off nicely.

Ali Larter in Heroes

Some useful blogs

Would that I had the time and resources (and money) to do this full-time and provide the very best service possible to all you lovely guys and gals. However, life is short, so I can’t. Ho hum.

The most notable and obvious gap in this ‘ere blog is that here I am, reviewing plenty of US TV for y’all in the UK so that you know what to keep your eyes peeled for, and then I leave you high and dry by not telling you when it’s going to air in the UK. Which is rubbish, I know, but c’est la vie.

So let me point you in the direction of some people who are far more helpful than me at pointing out what US (and UK) TV is worth watching each week:

  • Dan’s Media Digest : He writes reviews, he looks at the UK and US box offices each week and he also lets you know what to look out for on tele – he’s Dan Owen
  • TV Today: As well as reviews and previews, TV Today also has regular commentary on the news by The Stage‘s expert TV watchers Scott Matthewman and Mark Wright – sometimes they even break news as well – and the twice-weekly “Square Eyes
  • TV Spy: Totally US-in-the-UK TV-focused, this is put together by the people at TV & Satellite Week and always gives you the heads-up on what’s coming out in the UK soon and what’s hot in the US right now as well as news and clips.

Of the things to watch out for right now, I’d say keep your eyes peeled next Saturday, because the generally excellent spy show Burn Notice, which even gets its own tag here, starts at 9pm on FX (aka “The channel that shows all the really good US stuff, but no one can get, let along watch”). I found that out from Dan.

Monday’s lucky desk news

Doctor Who

Film

US TV

  • HBO developing show about mass emigration from the US
  • Michael Shanks returning for multiple episodes of Burn Notice
  • NBC shifting production of The Philanthropist to London to save on costs – and to get James Purefoy as the lead
  • Trailers for season two of Dirty Sexy Money
  • Another 24: Redemption trailer
  • TNT close to greenlighting two new shows
Theatre

New Fat Pig cast pics, including Kelly Brook and…

Fat Pig‘s cast is changing yet again, as regular readers will know. Joanna Page is heading off to film Gavin & Stacey‘s Christmas special so Kelly Brook’s taking over as Jeannie. I’ve reviewed the play twice already, and maybe (given the rate at which their digital PR person keeps emailing me) I might review it for a third time with the new cast and theatre.

But here’s the just released pics of the new cast including Kelly Brook. I can’t help but notice that despite the caption on the photo as provided, that’s not Ella Smith. Anyone know if the faux-Ella is her understudy or whether Ella’s heading off, too? Cos that’s news if it’s true.

If you’re on Facebook, you can see more pics at the Fat Pig group. Yes, that includes pictures of Kelly in a bikini.

Kelly Brook in Fat Pig