The Butler Didn't! at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

Chicago Stage and Screen - Not Recommended

"...The playwright Scott Woldman does not deserve the same protection. When a play is so infantile, stupid and unconvincing it actually makes most television reality shows look smart by comparison, that is the fault of the author. Why does Woldman seem to feel subverting one's intelligence is necessary to amuse? To put it succinctly, "The Butler Didn't" doesn't."

Around The Town Chicago - Recommended

"...it was designed to be just that. farce is a lot of craziness, sexual innuendo, mistaken identities, door slamming, pants dropping and just plain fun- this is what “The Butler Didn’t” is, all of the above and while it may seem a bit racist when it comes to some of the comedy about Latinos, in the end, he is the big winner, so take it all with a grain of salt. After all, if we can’s laugh at stereotypes ( and every culture has done this for years), what can we laugh at? Brad Dunn’s direction of this eventful farce is sheer genius in that all of the timing is sharp and clean. There wee two little scenes where the actors are in the aisles instead of off-stage ( unseen) that would have worked just a bit better using the far aisles allowing better sight lines for the entire audience, but The Metropolis is a smaller, and more intimate theater and being that the real action is on the stage, these snippets have no effect on the overall solid production..."

Chicago Theater Beat - Somewhat Recommended

"...The silliness is so-so, and like most farces, it could shave off half an hour. When the Metropolis allows itself to push the envelope a bit, however, the true potential of The Butler Didn’t!’ emerges. At the performance I attended, the audience was more receptive to riskier jokes. Perhaps the Metropolis doesn’t want to offend the sensibilities of its ticket holders. Restraint is admirable; big scores require going all in."