The play "What the Butler Saw" is a farcical comedy that unfolds in a chaotic sequence of misunderstandings and mistaken identities, all centered around a psychiatric clinic. The narrative delves into the complexities of human relationships, societal norms, and the absurdities inherent in both, all while maintaining a comedic tone. Through a series of outrageous events, the play examines themes of power dynamics, sexuality, and deception.

Act I

The curtain rises on a scene inside a psychiatric clinic, where Dr. Prentice, a psychiatrist, begins an interview with Geraldine Barclay for a secretarial role. Geraldine enters, clutching a small box, and places it on the floor. As their conversation progresses, she divulges that her father is unknown to her, and she hasn't seen her mother, who worked as a chambermaid, in years. Raised by her late stepmother, Mrs. Barclay, Geraldine's life was disrupted by an accident involving a gas explosion that also demolished a statue of Sir Winston Churchill. Eerily, fragments of the statue were discovered in Mrs. Barclay's body.

Pretending to conduct a medical assessment essential for the job, Dr. Prentice lures Geraldine into undressing. Misreading her innocent compliance, he places her dress on a chair while she reclines on a couch obscured by curtains. His wife, Mrs. Prentice, unexpectedly enters, followed by a hotel page named Nick. The chaotic scene intensifies as Nick and Mrs. Prentice, who share a clandestine past, conspire over photographs that could jeopardize her marriage unless she secures Nick a position at the clinic.

Amidst the ensuing confusion, Dr. Rance, a government psychiatrist, arrives, misinterpreting the situation and assuming Geraldine is a patient undergoing treatment. Providing her with a hospital gown and sedative, Dr. Rance's intervention further complicates matters. Mrs. Prentice, seeking Geraldine, discovers her clothing but not Geraldine herself, leading to further speculations about her husband's fidelity.

As Dr. Prentice futilely attempts to restore order, he unwittingly implicates Geraldine in a scandal fabricated by Dr. Rance. The latter's insistence that Geraldine is a victim of paternal abuse spirals into absurdity as Mrs. Prentice confronts her husband about his erratic behavior. When a police sergeant named Match appears, further complications arise as identities continue to blur. Nick, now dressed in Mrs. Prentice’s attire, is embroiled in a farcical masquerade intended to deceive the authorities.

Act II

The chaos resumes shortly after, with Sergeant Match inadvertently caught in Dr. Prentice's web of deception. Geraldine, mistakenly identified as Nick, accuses Dr. Prentice of misconduct, only to be met with disbelief and the threat of an examination. Rance, in his skewed logic, prepares to conduct a further examination, while Mrs. Prentice and Nick, still in disguise, add to the confusion. Dr. Prentice’s efforts to conceal his actions lead to his dismissal by Rance, who deems him mentally unfit for duty.

The tangled web of mistaken identities unravels as Nick and Geraldine acknowledge the switch in their clothing, while Nick plots to masquerade as Sergeant Match. Upon the sergeant's entrance, Dr. Prentice administers a concoction, leading to Sergeant Match's drugged state and eventual undress. Meanwhile, Dr. Rance, oblivious to the truth, concocts a far-fetched psychiatric narrative to explain the perplexing events, dreaming of turning it into a profitable novel.

As the subplot thickens, the disappearance of a box of pills leads Rance to suspect either suicide or foul play involving Geraldine. Dr. Prentice, now cornered, admits to improper conduct with Geraldine, while Mrs. Prentice hints at deeper secrets. Violence ensues as Dr. Prentice forcibly removes Mrs. Prentice's dress, exacerbating the farce when Dr. Rance returns and receives an exaggerated account of the altercation.

The comedic pandemonium crescendos with Nick,...