Edinburgh Fringe 2026
The RemAIns of the Butler
Mike McAlpine / Free Festival
Genre: Theatre
Venue: Laughing Horse @ The Counting House
Festival: Edinburgh Fringe
Low Down
McAlpine is butler to the Lord of the manor, in this case the mythical Kirklevington Hall, where his future is threatened by the arrival of an AI inspired robotic potential replacement.
Cue much muttering below decks from the servants, concerned that their hitherto relative sheltered, cushy careers might come under threat. Time for McAlpine to prove that a gentleman’s gentleman is genuinely irreplaceable.
Review
The butler, immaculately attired in tails and waistcoat, white cuff-linked shirt with not a crease in site, appropriately striped trousers and shoes you can see your face in, is an enduring, quintessential part of the upper classes’ support world. And “a gentleman’s gentleman” is a wonderfully apt description, socially ironic but precise – a manservant who prides himself in matching his master’s faultless appearance.
One might also have added that a real gentleman’s gentleman will come up with the ideal solution before his master becomes aware of the actual problem. But what if AI, in the form of a humanoid robot were to mount a challenge to this time-honoured profession?
Michael McAlpine is doing his best to maintain his composure, and it’s nothing to do with the cramped and stuffy venue he’s been allocated at Laughing Horse’s Counting House for this exploration of the art of butlering, or what could remAIn of the profession if AI were to make a great leap forward into the unknown.
McAlpine is head butler to the Lord of the manor, in this case the mythical Kirklevington Hall, which is hosting a three day conference on behalf of USWeCare, leaders in the delivery of reductive emotional reassurance (AI robotics to you and me) from, yes, you’ve guessed it, the good old US of A, led by a Stetson wearing CEO with a Southern drawl so deep you could swim in it. And, to butter up the old Lord, the CEO has offered him the use of his latest invention, a robotic Jeeves. Cue much muttering below decks from the servants, concerned that their hitherto relative sheltered, cushy careers might come under threat. Time for McAlpine to prove that a gentleman’s gentleman is genuinely irreplaceable.
That’s the premise for an hour that’s an engaging mix of sketch comedy, monologue, catchy songs, the odd bit of poetry (with the emphasis on the “odd”) and a good dollop of mime. All provided by the superbly versatile McAlpine himself, who plays a range of characters and caricatures with alacrity.
There’s the butler himself of course, urbane, smooth, perfect elocution, manners and bearing. Nothing can ruffle him, even the infuriating Jenkins, the aforementioned AI programmed robotic upstart who McAlpine is charge with training, who comes complete with monotonal voice, jerky movements that would never cope with serving his Lordship’s afternoon tea, and a propensity for logic and efficiency when nuance would be the better option.
Then there’s Micky, the under, under butler, the Geordie accented, archetypal cheeky chappy who is where he is for a reason but wouldn’t mind being somewhere better. And let’s not forget her Ladyship, an eccentric to the manor born, especially after her second gin of the morning. Finally, we have the Stetson totting CEO, all corporate baloney and false promises.
It’s a nice range of characters around which to weave this engaging tale, each one differentiated in the manner described and several of whom appeared to be in the room at the same time, largely due to this talented raconteur/actor’s abilities on the physical theatre front.
That the satire sometimes seems akin to a sledgehammer is justifiable, a reminder that we need to strike a balance between harnessing the obvious potential of AI to improve lives and the danger that, in so doing, it could dehumanise the very thing that created it.
There’s a butler in every one of us. It’s the part of us that provides service without servility, retains their dignity without being a doormat, anticipates problems and provides help, assistance and solutions to others. On one level McAlpine’s The RemAIns of The Butler is a wonderful allegory on the need for the human race to help each other. On another, it’s a polished, professional piece of theatre cum storytelling cum sketch comedy cum, well, jolly good way to spend an early afternoon at the Fringe.
Thoroughly recommended, especially for any passing nobility but, please, do remember to leave the butler a decent tip at the end. It’s the done thing, you know.
