Metropolis Debuts New Play by Local Playwright

Feb 17, 2011
The Butler Didn't

It's a madcap jewel heist in the all new, original play - a farce - The Butler Didn't!, coming to Metropolis Performing Arts Centre March 10 - April 17, 2011.

It's all going according to plan for jewel thieves Rick and Ernesto. Rick is the inside man, posing as billionaire Ezekiel Podmore's butler. And Ernesto just arrived with the tools to bust open the safe filled with diamonds. All that stands between the pair and $20 million is a drowsy and intolerant old man, his trashy trophy wife, money-hungry daughter, feeble-minded doctor, love-struck lawyer, and a horrible, debilitating, imaginary disease. Oh, and there's Ernesto's tendency to fall madly, passionately in love at exactly the wrong time. Maybe sticking to the plan won't be so easy after all.

This original play was written by Metropolis Resident Playwright and Palatine resident Scott Woldman. Woldman is also a teacher at Carl Sandburg Junior High School in Rolling Meadows.

"I wrote Butler in 2 weeks when I was going through a severe bout of depression because I had to move out of my house due to a mold infestation," says Woldman. "Clearly, I need to be depressed more often."

Woldman spent a year and half reworking the play. It was workshopped partly at The Chicago Dramatists and was performed in front of live audiences at staged readings at Metropolis in the Fall of 2009, and Spring of 2010. A few more revisions later and the script was finalized.

Director Brad Dunn is working with a wonderful cast, many of whom call the northwest suburbs home. Local cast members include Chuck Sisson of Barrington, Jackie Trabilsy of Woodridge, and Chris Warren of Woodstock.

Preview performances of The Butler Didn't! at Metropolis are March 10-12, 2011. Opening day is Sunday, March 13, 2011. The show runs through April 17, 2011. Specific dates and times are listed below. Tickets range from $27-$33 for previews and $35-$43 for regular run shows and can be purchased online at MetropolisArts.com or by calling the Box Office at 847.577.2121.