British humor hilarious in Whidbey Playhouse’s ‘Busybody’

  • By Theresa Goffredo Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, January 25, 2012 7:10pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

“Busybody”: You know the type. In this case, it’s the cleaning woman. Always putting her nose in the cops’ business.

The woman lives in the basement of the office building she cleans. But this time, she not only brings the cops her idea of evidence, she finds a body.

“Busybody,” brought to you by the Whidbey Playhouse and director Dulcey Whyte, is a Jack Popplewell comedy that is, oh, so British and, oh, so droll.

The hilarity, in fact, centers around this talkative cleaning lady who finds herself in the center of some muck. But by the time the police arrive, there is no body and no evidence.

As it goes, the wrong alarms were sounded, murdered men turned up alive and the whole thing was chalked up to one cleaning woman’s imagination.

Then, an unidentified body is found on a distant hill and, in the course of her duties, the cleaning woman uncovers more evidence, according to press material.

There are so many questions: Is the company’s owner staging his own murder? Or did he kill his wife’s lover?

Is the lover an employee or someone else?

Where do the two female assistants fit in?

What does the wife know that she’s not saying?

In the end, all will revealed.

“Busybody” opens at 7:30 tonight at Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midvale Blvd., Oak Harbor. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 12.

Tickets are $16. Call 360-679-2237 or go to www.whidbeyplayhouse.com.

“Rosencrantz &Guildenstern Are Dead”: Tom Stoppard’s Tony Award-winning comedy is known to make audiences laugh out loud.

This Seattle Public Theatre production presents this show with a little twist: Local actresses are cast in traditionally male roles.

The show contains zany humor, quicksilver wordplay, gripping tension and a heady swirl of ideas brought forth when two nobodies who long to star in their own story come together, according to press material.

Seattle Public Theatre’s revival is directed by artistic and education director Shana Bestock.

“Rosencrantz &Guildenstern Are Dead” opens at 7:30 tonight at Seattle Public Theatre, 7312 W. Green Lake Drive N, Seattle. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 19.

Tickets start at $25. Call 206-524-1300 or go to seattlepublictheater.org.

Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Water from the Snohomish River spills onto a road on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
How we covered the record-breaking flood

A special edition of Eliza Aronson’s newsletter detailing her and photographer Olivia Vanni’s week of flood coverage.

The Snow Queen ballet, 9 to 5, Northwest Perspectives, and more

Music, arts and more coming to Snohomish County

‘Golden Promise’ is a striking Japanese Cedar that I have and love. (Sunnyside Nursery)
Part 3 of the Conifer Trilogy – Stunning yellows, bright whites

Let the Trilogy of Conifers continue with the finale! Two weeks ago… Continue reading

The Olson Bros Band, 9 to 5, Northwest Perspectives, and more

Music, arts and more coming to Snohomish County

Inside Timothy Walsh’s Little Free Library on Sept. 3, 2025 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Big stories live in small boxes

Little Free Libraries offer free books for all ages, if you know where to look.

Cascadia visitors mingle among the art during its 10th anniversary celebration, on Sept. 12, in Edmonds, Wash. (Jon Bauer / The Herald)
A small museum with a big impact on northwest art

Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds celebrates a decade of art and forgotten voices.

Our “Evergreen State” of Washington filled with native conifers like Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and Red Cedar, among others. (Sunnyside Nursery)
Conifers Large and Small

With old man winter approaching shortly, December presents a perfect opportunity for… Continue reading

Sweet and spicy, Honey Sriracha Shrimp is a no-fuss fall classic for seafood lovers

Honey Sriracha Shrimp is a deliciously sweet and spicy dish we are… Continue reading

Information panels on display as a part of the national exhibit being showcased at Edmonds College on Nov. 19, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds College hosts new climate change and community resilience exhibit

Through Jan. 21, visit the school library in Lynnwood to learn about how climate change is affecting weather patterns and landscapes and how communities are adapting.

Stollwerck Plumbing owner J.D. Stollwerck outside of his business along 5th Street on Nov. 5, 2025 in Mukilteo, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Happy 1 year anniversary of bridge withdrawals’

Residents of Everett and Mukilteo live life on the edge … of the Edgewater Bridge.

Many outdoor gems, such as Camellias, bloom in the winter, some of which offer fragrance as a bonus. (Sunnyside Nursery)
Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

With the holiday season now in full swing and Christmas just around… Continue reading

Kicking Gas Campaign Director Derek Hoshiko stands for a portrait Thursday, Sep. 7, 2023, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Climate justice group Kicking Gas is expanding efforts to Snohomish County

The nonprofit aims to switch residents to electrical appliances and can help cover up to 75% of installation costs.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.