A Little Preposition Lets Intent Shine Through

       L.A. Times theatre critic Charles McNulty may have given his true attitude in the perhaps unconscious alteration of a phrase. 

       Referring to a National Theatre production he’d seen in London, McNulty said,

       "When I caught the production...grown men were reduced to sobbing puddles of hilarity.  I’ve never been a huge fan of the Benny Hill style myself, but this madcap caper, involving mistaken identity, bumbling mobsters and all sorts of shameless shenanigans revolving around food, tickled me to no end."

       The Benny Hill remark and especially the use of the phrase “to no end” instead of the more common “no end,”  perhaps suggest the work’s shortcomings to him.  The play may have tickled him, but apparently “to no purpose” rather than “a vast amount.”