The arrival of a manipulating psycho to a dysfunctional family leads to disaster.

Mike’s Badhuistheater presents the Sex Comedy of the Swinging ’60’s “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” by Joe Orton (1933-1967). Directed by Mike Manicardi.

When Entertaining Mr. Sloane first appeared on the London stage in 1964, Great Britain was a very different place.

This rage against society’s hypocrisy polarised the critics at a time when the death penalty was still in force, homosexuality and abortions were illegal and racism was endemic. Legendary Leicester enfant terrible, Joe Orton’s Entertaining Mr. Sloane, takes a pop at all of them.

At the time of writing “Sloane“ Joe and his lover would have been criminals for their Illegal relationship.

Some historical facts:

In 1960, the minister of War, John Profumo, was forced to resign when news came out that he was sleeping with the same woman, Christine Keeler, who was also sleeping with the Russian chief attaché at the Russian embassy in London. Keeler was crucified in the press as a sex slave, her contact committed suicide or was murdered, when it appears now (she died two months ago) that she was probably spying and getting information for the Russians at the height of the Cold War. Orton’s play premiered in spring 1964 and by autumn 1964 the Labour government of Harold Wilson was in power, which would decriminalize homosexuality and abolish Capital Punishment. The swinging ’60’s were definitely NOT swinging for the characters in Joe’s play. We mustn’t forget that London was also in the grips of the KRAYS. Sexuality, politics and crime were serious bedfellows.

About the play:

*Nederlands*

De komst van een manipulerende psychoot in een disfunctionele familie leidt tot een ramp…

Akte 1

’s Avonds in 1963 in een getto in Noord-Londen. Kath komt thuis met Mr. Sloane, die ze in een bibliotheek heeft opgepikt. Sloane is dakloos. Kath woont samen met haar oude bijna blinde vader die in Sloane de moordenaar van zijn baas herkent. Kath voelt zich aangetrokken tot Sloane en Sloane weet Kath’s homoseksuele broer en gangster Ed ook om zijn vinger te winden.

*English*

The arrival of a manipulating psycho to a dysfunctional family leads to disaster....

Joe Orton, who died young, was a scandalous playwright in the early 1960’s. His brilliant wit and his theatrical genius made some people call him the working class Oscar Wilde.

Act 1

It is Night in 1963 in a ghetto in North-London. Kath comes home with Mr. Sloane, who she has picked up in a public library. Sloane is homeless. Kath lives alone with her old, almost blind, father. The father recognizes in Sloane the killer of his old boss. Kath is attracted to Sloane. Kath’s homosexual and gangster brother Ed also develops an interest in Sloane.

Mike Manicardi directs the Badhuistheater International. The company has produced several exceptional, original and sold-out productions in the last years at their unique home theatre: the Badhuis Amphitheatre. Many intimate theatre productions (80-100 seats) from Dutch and International companies have premiered here: i.e. Blackadder, ‘Allo ‘Allo, and the O’ Casey Dublin Trilogy of Plays.

Cast of Entertaining Mr. Sloane
Denis Burke – Ed (Blackadder, Jackie Clitheroe – Plough and the Stars, Flick – ‘Allo ‘Allo, Donal – Shadow of a Gunman)
Paddy O’Connell – Kemp (Blackadder, Captain Boyle – Juno and the Paycock, Seamus Shields – Shadow of a Gunman)
Roos Dros – Kath (Blackadder, Yvet – ‘Allo ‘Allo)
Eoin O’Cunningham – Sloane (Baldrick – Blackadder, Bertorelli – ‘Allo ‘Allo)

Decor design Tonnie van der Kamp