Loot (play)

"Loot" is a play by Joe Orton. The play is an extremely dark farce which satirises the Roman Catholic ChurchFact|date=May 2007, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force.

"Loot" was Orton's third major production, following "Entertaining Mr Sloane" and the television play "The Good and Faithful Servant". He completed a first draft in October 1964, which premiered in Cambridge on February 1, 1965. The production starred Geraldine McEwan, Kenneth Williams, Duncan Macrae and Ian McShane and was directed by Peter Wood.

Responses to the first production were extremely mixed, with many in the audience outraged, as Orton had intended. Largely negative reviews also killed the box office. The first run ended at Wimbledon on March 15, 1965 with the play considered a flop due to its problems with repeated script rewrites, uneven direction, a stylish and unsympathetic set, and what many considered the miscasting of Williams.

However, "Loot" was successfully revived the next year at the Jeanette Cochrane Theatre on September 27, 1966 with Gerry Duggan, Sheila Ballantine, Kenneth Cranham, Simon Ward, and Michael Bates in the major roles. The play won several awards in its London run and transferred to the Criterion Theatre in November. The play has since gained a reputation as a comic masterpiece and has had many revivals.

Plot outline

Loot follows the fortunes of two young thieves, Hal and Dennis. Together they rob the bank next to the funeral parlour where Dennis works and return to Hal's home to hide the money. Hal's mother has just died and the money is hidden in her coffin while her body keeps on appearing around the house. Upon the arrival of Inspector Truscott the plot turns topsy turvy as Hal and Dennis try to keep him off their trail. Messing with the conventions of popular farce, Orton creates a hectic world and examines English attitudes and perceptions in the mid twentieth century. Loot has been described as a "masterpiece of black farce."Fact|date=February 2007

Film version

*"Loot" was made into a film in 1970, directed by Silvio Narizzano and starring Richard Attenborough, Lee Remick, Hywel Bennett and comedian Dick Emery.

Trivia

*In 1984, actor Leonard Rossiter died in his dressing room at the "Lyric Theatre" in London while waiting to go onstage in a performance of the play.

external links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=3150 "Loot" at] IBDB

* [http://shopix.250free.com/loot.html Photos of a production of "Loot"]