First Folio's 'Jeeves Saves the Day' is a comic delight

Posted February 05, 2020 11:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Aunt Agatha Gregson (Lucinda Johnston), right, has plans to reform her nephew, Egbert Bakewell (Dan Klarer), by sending him to South Africa for a job in “Jeeves Saves the Day” for First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook. Courtesy of Tom McGrath/First Folio Theatre

“Jeeves Saves the Day” - ★ ★ ★

After catching the opening-night performance of First Folio Theatre's shared world premiere of “Jeeves Saves the Day,” I regret missing Margaret Raether's previous four stage adaptations of P.G. Wodehouse's beloved early 20th-century comic short stories.

As a fan of the BBC's 1990s TV adaptation, “Jeeves and Wooster,” I can appreciate how well Raether captured the sparkle of Wodehouse's literary lampooning of the British idle rich. So another of Raether's stage jaunts with Jeeves is most welcome following her “Jeeves Intervenes” in 2008, “Jeeves in Bloom” in 2010, “Jeeves Takes a Bow” in 2013 and “Jeeves at Sea” in 2016.

The valet Jeeves (Jim McCance), left, learns that Bertie Wooster (Christian Gray) is distressed at becoming engaged in "Jeeves Saves the Day" at First Folio Theatre. Courtesy of Tom McGrath/First Folio Theatre

Amazingly, First Folio has retained the same two leading men for each production. Thus, longtime First Folio fans can look forward to a continuity of “episodes” while watching the animated Christian Gray return as clueless, wealthy British bachelor Bertie Wooster and the droll Jim McCance inhabit his smart, ever-loyal valet Jeeves.

“Jeeves Saves the Day” is set in a rented English seaside cottage. When Jeeves returns from vacation, he finds Bertie inert and in despair over his pending (and unwanted) engagement to the domineering and only talked-about Honoria Glossop.

Almanya Narula stars as jazz singer Red Hot Maisie Dawson in "Jeeves Saves the Day," Margaret Raether's stage adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse's stories for Oak Brook's First Folio Theatre. Courtesy of Tom McGrath/First Folio Theatre

But that crisis gets sidelined as Jeeves and Bertie face the arrival of Bertie's steamrolling Aunt Agatha Gregson (Lucinda Johnston). Aunt Agatha not only feels justified in meddling in Bertie's affairs, she has already decided the fate of another wayward nephew, Bertie's even more irresponsible and gambling-addicted cousin Egbert Bakewell (Dan Klarer).

Aunt Agatha lines Egbert up for a job in South Africa to reform him, but he gets distracted by the alluring jazz singer Red Hot Maisie Dawson (Almanya Narula), who is on tour at a posh Southhampton hotel. More complications ensue with the arrival of Honoria's moral stalwart father, Sir Roderik Glossop (Sean Sinitski).

Director Joe Foust and his game cast have a field day playing up the exaggerated emotions and near slapstick physical humor in Raether's clever script. Klarer, in particular, stands out when it comes to silliness. The actors also look impeccable in designer Rachel Lambert's stylish jazz-age costumes against the beautiful cottage backdrop by set designer Angela Weber Miller.

The valet Jeeves (Jim McCance), right, tries to distract Aunt Agatha Gregson (Lucinda Johnston) as her nephew, Egbert Bakewell (Dan Klarer), left, hides in First Folio's "Jeeves Saves the Day." Courtesy of Tom McGrath/First Folio Theatre

There are lots of situational laughs to be had in “Jeeves Saves the Day.” Yet there could be more if cast members fine-tuned their already good British accents to finesse all the comic inflections out of Raether's arch rejoinders and zinging dialogue.

But these are just minor quibbles for “Jeeves Saves the Day.” It's a fizzy cocktail of fun from start to finish.

Location: First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook, (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org

Showtimes: 8 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, 3 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; through March 1

Tickets: $34-$44, $29-$39 students and seniors

Running time: About two hours with intermission

Parking: Free adjacent lot

Rating: For general audiences

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