Editor’s note: Christopher John Grella is now playing the role of Jeeves, replacing Jim McCance, following a casting change that happened after press time.
The delightful duo of ne’er do well Bertie Wooster and his faithful butler Jeeves returns to First Folio Theatre for the company’s sixth and final staging of a Margaret Raether adaptation of a P.G. Wodehouse story.
They are being played by another delightful duo, actors Christian Gray and Christopher John Grella, in “Jeeves Intervenes” Nov. 2-Dec. 4 at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook.
Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 3 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays (schedule varies), plus 8 p.m. Nov. 3.
This is the final Bertie and Jeeves show for First Folio Theatre because the company that was founded in 1997 is ceasing operations after this season. First Folio previously staged “Jeeves Intervenes” in 2008, as its first Bertie and Jeeves show.
“It’s a joy to return to First Folio and to be able to revisit such a silly airhead — a good-natured chum but nothing much upstairs,” said Gray of his character Bertie. “While it’s great to be the first show of the last season, it’s also bittersweet. Who knows when or if we might get the chance to collaborate like this again.”
In the meantime, Gray said, the cast and crew are enjoying every moment of this experience.
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The actor noted that this is also the last time that his wife, actor Lydia Berger Gray, will be in a First Folio show.
Gray described his unusual technique for playing Bertie. “There’s not a lot of depth to Bertie. It’s basically allowing myself not to think and simply to react,” he said. “It’s really fun playing someone who goes through life knowing that everything will be taken care of because he has Jeeves, the person who can solve all problems, no matter how sticky they may be.”
In “Jeeves Intervenes,” Bertie is once again trying to avoid being married despite the attempts by his overbearing Aunt Agatha to hitch him to Gertrude Winklesworth Bode, played by Lydia Berger Gray. Of course, that won’t happen because, once again, Jeeves intervenes.
“It’s just intelligent fluff. It’s so much fun,” Gray said.
Gray indicated that this production will be different because it is in a much bigger space than was used for the 2008 production. Another difference that he indicated was that the series has a new director, Michael Goldberg.
Although this is Goldberg’s first Bertie and Jeeves show for First Folio, he has a long relationship with the company.
He chose to direct this show because, “I wanted to be part of the final season,” Goldberg said. The director added that the founders David Rice and the late Alison C. Vesely have meant a lot to him personally and professionally.
Goldberg is also happy to direct this play because of the behavior within it.
“I love — especially at this time in our lives and our social and political environment — that this hearkens to a more civil sensibility between people even though there may be conflict and biases,” he explained, adding, “It’s a fun piece. This is a chance to be silly and entertaining.”
Goldberg praised both of the leads in the show.
Goldberg said, “Christian has so much energy and he’s a good physical actor as well. He can carry off a memorable Ping-Pong brain. He brings a number of different facets to Bertie.”
‘Jeeves Intervenes’
When: Nov. 2-Dec. 4
Where: First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook
Tickets: $29-$59
Information: 630-986-8067; firstfolio.org
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.