When we were all gathered around to watch something that made us laugh so hard that we couldn’t breathe, do you remember those evenings when everything seemed to be heading in the right direction and we felt a bit lighter? The following is a sketch that is a hidden treasure, a sketch that appears like a time warp that transfers you back to the golden era of comedy, and it is just waiting for you to find it. It is the middle of the day at the Croft home, and the atmosphere is electric with the drama of the Victorian era.
The characters of Lance and Evelyn, played by Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence, are a married couple who get into a hilarious argument over loyalty, dancing courses, and, of course, the craziness of their maids, who are portrayed by Tim Conway and Carol Burnett. The servants get engaged in the pandemonium. The austere attitude of the butler and maid begins to shatter as they are given orders to argue, slap, and play out every ridiculous whim that their bosses throw at them.
In the film “Butler and the Maid,” comic legends get together to create a comedy that will make you laugh till you can’t stop. At the beginning of the video, Evelyn is heard asking Lance about stories of his infidelity, her tone dripping with drama. Meanwhile, Tim Conway, the ever-patient butler, is attempting to keep his composure. As the two argue with one another, the tension increases, but it is the servants, Louella and Benchley, who steal the show with their responses to each outburst of irrational rage.
They are caught in the crossfire of an utterly absurd clash of wills, and their deadpan delivery is superb. They are so much more than merely supporting characters; they are trapped in the crossfire. The scenario continues with Louella rushing to repair Evelyn’s makeup, feeding her like a kid, and carrying out every ridiculous demand with elegance, all of which contribute to the humorous appeal of the situation. The seamless performances of Burnett and Conway are what give the picture its enduring appeal, despite the fact that it is a humorous parody of the drama and absurd wealth that occurred throughout the Victorian period.
