Loot (play)

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Loot is a play by Joe Orton. The play is an extremely dark farce which satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and the integrity of the police force.^[1]

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, but largely negative reviews also affected the box office. The first run ended at Wimbledon on March 20, 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 following year at the Jeanette Cochrane Theatre in Holborn 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.

Loot was revived from 11 December 2008 to 31 January 2009 at the Tricycle Theatre, London starring Matt Di Angelo and David Haig as Hal and Truscott. It transferred to Theatre Royal, Newcastle and run 2-7 February 2009.

1 Plot outline
2 Film version
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

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."^{[citation needed]}