Entertaining Mr Sloane

"Entertaining Mr Sloane" is a play by Joe Orton. It was first presented in London at the New Arts Theatre on 6 May 1964 by Michael Codron Ltd and at Wyndham's Theatre on 29 June 1964 by Michael Codron and Albery.

Plot

The play opens with Mr Sloane, who is looking for accommodation from the middle-aged Kath (Katthy). Kath obliges, but it is clear that her motive for taking Mr Sloane on as a boarder is that she is attracted to him. Sloane soon faces problems when Kath's father Kemp recognizes Sloane as the man who had murdered his boss some time ago. Sloane engages in a cat-and-mouse game with Kemp over his identity. The situation becomes even more complex when Kath's over-bearing brother Ed appears on the scene. Kath assumes that he will not be pleased about Sloane staying, for fear of her forming a relationship with him, but on the contrary it is clear from the beginning that Ed also has feelings for Sloane, and so he employs him as his driver.

The play ends with Sloane killing Kemp, and being forced to choose between living with Kath (who is pregnant by him), or the jealous Ed. In the end, Kath and Ed reach a compromise, agreeing to cover up Kemp's murder, and sharing Sloane, with each sharing him for six months at a time. Sloane adopts a passive role at this point in the play, ostensibly to avoid being charged with Kemp's murder.

There are other peculiarities throughout the play. For example, Kath reveals that she has already given birth once before, and gave the child away to an orphanage (Sloane had also been raised in an orphanage). However, at one point she also says the boy had been "killed in very sad circumstances." The child would now be about Sloane's age, and Kath takes on a motherly role with Sloane, in addition to being his lover. The fate of Kath's first husband (or whether she actually had one), is also unclear, though at one point she claims she is a widow. The relationship between Sloane and Ed is also unclear; they seem to like each other, possibly as a homosexual union, but the extent of this is concealed.Ultimately, the play is at once a mild comedy of manners, and full of sexual innuendo, which leaves the play up to the audience to interpret.

Casts

1964 Cast

*Kath: Madge Ryan
*Sloane: Dudley Sutton
*Kemp: Kenkennif
*Ed: Peter Vaughan
*"Directed by" Patrick Dromgoole
*"Designed by" Timothy O'Brien
*"Costumes supervised by" Tazeena Firth

1965 Broadway Cast

"Entertaining Mr Sloane" opened at the Lyceum Theatre on October 12, 1965 and closed after just 13 performances.

*Kath: Sheila Hancock
*Ed: Lee Montague
*Sloane: Dudley Sutton
*The Dadda: George Turner
*"Directed by" Alan Schneider
*"Designed by" William Ritman
*"Costume design by" William Ritman

1975 Cast

"Entertaining Mr Sloane" was revived as part of the 'Joe Orton Festival' at the Royal Court Theatre, London, on April 17, 1975, subsequently transferring to the Duke of York's Theatre. The cast was as follows:

*Kath: Beryl Reid
*Sloane: Malcolm McDowell
*Kemp: James Ottaway
*Ed: Ronald Fraser
*"Directed by" Roger Croucher
*"Designed by" John Gunter
*"Costumes supervised by" Deirdre Clancy

2006 Cast

Currently (2006) in production by the Roundabout Theatre Company on the Laura Pels stage. Director: Scott Ellis. The design team for Entertaining Mr. Sloane includes Allen Moyer (sets), Michael Krass (costumes), Ken Posner (lights) and John Gromada (original music and sound).

*Ed: Alec Baldwin
*Sloane: Chris Carmack
*Kath: Jan Maxwell
*Kemp: Richard Easton

2007 Cast

In production as a part of the 2007 season for the Melbourne Theatre Company at the Fairfax Theatre, Melbourne Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Director: Simon Phillips. Designed by Shaun Gorton. Music by David Chesworth.

*Ed: Richard Piper
*Sloane: Ben Guerens
*Kath: Amanda Muggleton
*Kemp: Bob Hornery

See also

*Entertaining Mr Sloane (film) - film based on the play.

External links

* [http://www.scr.org/season/00-01season/snl00-01/snlss1.asp South Coast Repertory articles about the play]