By Stephen Dubois

If there is one thing the Shaw Festival knows how to do right, it’s comedy and Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, at the Courthouse Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, does not disappoint one bit.  Adapted by David Goodale and Robert Goodale, from the beloved characters created by P. G. Wodehouse, the play embraces the trademark wit, absurd situations (where the always dependable Jeeves finds a way to save the day), and delightfully eccentric characters. Living up to its name, the show is a brilliantly conceived farce from beginning to end. As Bertie Wooster enters the stage, he proclaims that he is going be acting in a play and adding “How hard can it be?” Once things begin Wooster seems to be overwhelmed at everything around him.  As set pieces roll in, he proclaims, “What’s that?!” and his valet Jeeves replies in classic deadpan: “Scenery, sir.” 

The set features a lot of variety with some exceptionally conceived highlights like the car ride (replete with foleys and props), garden house, and mansion.  For those who saw Sleuth you will recognize some of its set pieces being re-used but in different ways.  While Sleuth has a single, meticulously dressed manor interior, Jeeves and Wooster requires more fluidity to keep up with its rapid scene changes.  Therefore, elements are disconnected for easy movement and repurposed cleverly.  There is no fault whatsoever with this efficiency.  It works and it allows the comedic elements to take center stage.  Sleuth and Jeeves are not theatrical siblings in this intimate space, but rather cousins: sharing the DNA of the stage floor, border, furnishings, and larger pieces.

And I would be remiss to not include the costume design.  While Wooster (played by Jeff Irving) stays in character the entire time, being the meta, “omnipresent observer” of his theatrical creation, Damien Atkins (primarily Jeeves) and Travis Seeto (primarily Seppings) both are constantly changing costumes playing all the remaining male and female roles.  It recalled classic sketch comedy in the vein of Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The Kids in the Hall with the humor arising from the actors’ commitment, physicality, and impeccable comic timing rather than from the gender of the characters themselves.  The standout comic creation was Seeto’s characterization of the ever-growing henchman who keeps getting taller in every scene to appear more menacing.  Later he rolls in on an apparatus that he can crank with a wheel to propel about and he even launches himself higher and taller with an automated harness.  I snorted and boisterously laughed the entire time.  The comedy kept pushing itself at every turn, never resting on its laurels and always remaining fresh, which is truly what I love so much about the Shaw Festival.  As mentioned, comedies here are so successfully staged which is a testament to both the actors and their directors.

Jeff Irving was sensational throughout.  He had a very natural cadence with his comedic delivery and served as the anchor for the ensemble.  Damien Atkins was hysterical in his many characters.  While Jeeves was his primary role his others were played to great effect.  For me, Travis Seeto ultimately generated the biggest laughs of the evening.  He took on the lion’s share of additional supporting roles and all of them were flawlessly delivered.  You could tell he was having fun himself, too.  That said, the way all three worked together ended up being greater than the sum of its parts.  Combined with the inventive stagecraft, wonderful direction by Brendan McMurtry-Howlett, clever props, and well-executed effects, the result is a side-splitting and memorable evening at the Shaw.

Jeeves and Wooster will be enjoying a long run through October 10, and is two hours with an intermission. The Courthouse Theatre has an entrance on the right side and, while the theater space is two flights up, there is an elevator available if needed.  Tickets and performance information are available through the Shaw Festival website: Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense – Shaw Festival Theatre