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BLT stages 'lighthearted' comedy 'Jeeves in Bloom'

Butler Little Theatre actors, from left, Nedra Casey, Grant Allen Clark and Jerry Johnston, prepare for the “warm and cheery” production of “Jeeves in Bloom.” Show dates are Nov. 23 to Dec. 1.Karl Kobil photo

The Butler Little Theatre is bringing a hilarious comedy to the boards this holiday season.

“Jeeves in Bloom,” adapted by Margaret Raether, deals with heists, newts and romance.

The show opens Nov. 23 at the BLT, One Howard St.

The tale begins with a phone call.

Bertie Wooster receives a call from his Aunt Dahlia, and he and his man Jeeves rush to her country house.

The bumbling Bertie is tossed into a series of troubles and routinely saved from the circumstances by his resourceful manservant, Jeeves.

In the role of Jeeves is Jerry Johnston of Butler Township.

“Jeeves is the unflappable 'gentleman's valet' to our hapless hero Bertie Wooster in this wacky British farce,” Johnston said.

Johnston, who typically plays a comedic character, is in for a bit of a change.

“Getting to be the straight man for all of the craziness that swirls around the character of Jeeves is a bit different,” he said. “It's a challenge to maintain Jeeves' stoicism while all of the other characters are so comically over the top.”

Johnston last appeared with the BLT as Henry Drummond in “Inherit the Wind.”

The character of Bertie Wooster is being played by Phillip Ball of Butler.

“Bertie Wooster is a wealthy playboy who doesn't have many cares or responsibilities. His valet, Jeeves, insures that status remains unchanged,” said Ball.

“He's quite cheery and unflappable. He's educated, though much of what he's learned has not been retained well,” he added.

Ball said he enjoyed working with Dennis Casey last season on “Boeing Boeing” and wanted to participate in another show with him. Casey is directing “Jeeves in Bloom.”

The action of the show takes place “mostly in my stately garden at my estate,” said Bob Meals of his character Tom Travers.

Meals, of Butler, describes Travers as “a stuffy English gentleman.”

“Bertie's attempts at 'help' go hilariously awry, but the brilliant Jeeves rides to the rescue,” said Meals, who acts frequently with the BLT.

Daniel Williams of Pittsburgh is a volcanologist (someone who studies volcanoes) by day but by night is taking on the role of Gussie Fink-Nottle.

“Gussie is horribly socially awkward and suffers unbelievable shyness particularly when talking to Madeline, his love interest,” said Williams. “His life revolves entirely around his research into the biology of newts,” Williams said.

Williams said he is enjoying his role and garnering laughs, but not because of Gussie's lines.

“His lines aren't even that funny; it's the facial expressions and the way that I move that make it so amusing. I get to have a lot of fun with the character before I've even opened my mouth,” Williams said.

His love interest is played by a fellow English actor, Amy Evans.

Evans of Point Breeze recently graduated from the Community College of Allegheny County and landed the role of Madeline Basset.

“She is a sweet but rather fanciful young woman. She loves writing poetry and still believes in fairies. She isn't particularly bright, but she means well,” Evans explained.

“Her overall sweet, syrupy countenance, it's very unlike any character I have played before,” she said.

The biggest challenge for Evans is not an accent for this English-born actress, but the voice of the character.

“It is a high-pitched breathy tone so different from how I normally speak. But I think it makes Madeline,” she said.

Evans last appeared with the BLT in 2014 as Barbara in “Run for Your Wife.”

She said she is enjoying the British farce and thinks it is the perfect show for the holiday season.

“It's lighthearted and silly and warm and cheery,” she said.

The cast also includes Grant Allen Clark and Nedra Casey.

The show is directed by Dennis Casey and co-produced by Stephanie Kobil and Sis Fleming.

WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “Jeeves in Bloom”WHEN: Nov. 23 to Dec. 1, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: BLT, One Howard St.TICKETS: $17, available at www.bltgroup.org

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