Review: Northlight's BUTLER a peculiar slice of American history

If Major General Benjamin Franklin Butler hadn't been a lawyer, he might have tried his hand at psychotherapy, particularly talk therapy. His hyper-focus on word choice and the meaning behind said choices is the first impression we get of this Civil War leader in BUTLER, now playing through April 17 at Northlight Theatre in Skokie.

Major General Butler (Greg Vinkler) was a real lawyer from Massachusetts who through political machinations was given a high military rank and in 1861 commissioned by President Lincoln to take charge of a Union fort in Virginia. Butler's at-the-ready guard, Lieutenant Kelly (Nate Burger), is all rigid salutes and Yes sir!/No sir! as he reports to his new boss that three Negro slaves are in the fort and one has demanded to see the Major General. Butler is more interested in Lt. Kelly's use of the word "demand" than he is in the actual reason the slaves have come to Fort Monroe. He picks apart Kelly's language as if there were hidden meaning behind each and every word.

After an exhaustive semantic roundelay, Butler agrees to see the slave, Shepard Mallory (Tosin Morohunfola), a smart and articulate though somewhat peculiar man who has come with two others to seek sanctuary in the fort. Their exchange starts out friendly and frustrating -- "Call me Ben," Butler says, starting a debate on the appropriateness of that -- but eventually goes deeper, as Butler begins to see real similarities between himself and Mallory.

Butler: "Did you just say 'convoluted'?"
Mallory, both deadpan and sarcastic: "We know lots of words."
Butler: "You are an arrogant oddity."
Mallory: "So are you."

And so it goes, like looking into a mirror.

The back-and-forth between Butler and Kelly, then Butler and Mallory, and then among all three becomes a bit Three Stooges at times. That may sound bad, but it works, in a "convoluted" sort of way. (I can clearly envision a Broadway or feature film version starring, say, John Malkovich, Zac Efron and Chris Rock). A fourth "Stooge," Confederate soldier Major Cary (Tim Monsion ably capturing a proper pompous southerner), rounds out the second act. (Richard Dreyfuss in the movie version?)

Greg Vinkler does a splendid job in the title role -- as playwright Richard Strand envisions the character. The program notes tell us what a horrible person Butler could be in real life but then go on to explain his benevolent side. Also, Strand's Butler is much more attractive than his nickname, "Beast," would suggest. The contrast played out might have made for more compelling drama, but all we see is the man's witty, discerning, persnickety side. (Think a less flamboyant Uncle Arthur from TV's "Bewitched.")

That is not to say it isn't a satisfying slice of Civil War history. It is. Butler employed his legal expertise to grant sanctuary to Mallory and his companions, and through that action, Congress eventually was able to nullify the Fugitive Slave Act. Through Strand's swiftly paced script and Stuart Carden's direction, the actors bring a certain accessibility to the subject that might not appeal to hard-core history buffs, but for those who enjoy more modern interpretations of gritty topics, BUTLER provides an entertaining experience.

BUTLER continues through April 17 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets are $25-$79 ($15 for students). Call (847) 673-6300; northlight.org.

Photo credit: Michael Brosilow