Noises Off
By Michael Frayn
Directed by Jeremy Herrin
What's It All About?
It's a revival of the 1982 play by Michael Frayn about backstage drama while a group of actors tries to put on a play called "Nothing On." Andrea Martin (Pippin) stars as Dotty Otley, a middle-aged actress who has a lot of trouble remembering when she needs her props of sardines and newspapers. She makes her beau, Garry Lejeune (David Furr) jealous by pretending to be interested in Freddy (Jeremy Shamos), who gets a lot of nosebleeds. Meanwhile, untalented ingenue Brooke Ashton (a very funny Megan Hilty), who gets between the show's director, Lloyd (Dallas (Campbell Scott) and the assistant stage manager, Poppy Norton-Taylor (Tracee Chimo). Poppy's boss is overworked Tim Algood (Rob McClure), in a role that under utilizes the abilities of this Chaplin star). Rounding out the cast are Kate Jennings Grant as seasoned actress Belinda Blair and Daniel Davis (again a role that hardly taps the comic genius of the actor playing it) as Sheldon Mowbray, the veteran actor whose penchant for whiskey often causes him to mess up his entry cues.
What Are the Highlights?
Martin has some fun moments and Scott is entertaining in his frustration. Hilty is a hoot as the clueless and talent-less Brooke who stiffly recites her lines as written regardless of the mayhem going on around her (though it is hard to understand her when she yells). Derek McLane nicely executes the set, which transforms form the set of the "Nothing On" play to the backstage area where mayhem ensues.
What Are the Highlights?
Martin has some fun moments and Scott is entertaining in his frustration. Hilty is a hoot as the clueless and talent-less Brooke who stiffly recites her lines as written regardless of the mayhem going on around her (though it is hard to understand her when she yells). Derek McLane nicely executes the set, which transforms form the set of the "Nothing On" play to the backstage area where mayhem ensues.
What Are the Lowlights?
This play always seems like it's stretching to me. It's a typical farces with lots of doors, repeated gags and physical humor, but it just never seems to get me rolling in the aisles. The plot is just too ridiculous.
More Information:
Additional Creative Team: Derek McLane, Set Design; Michael Krass, Costume Design; Jane Cox Lighting Design; Christopher Cronin Sound Design; Todd Almond Original Music; Paul Huntley Hair and Wig Design; Lorenzo Pisoni; Comedy Stunt Coordinator; Elizabeth Smith
Dialect Consultant
Dialect Consultant
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FACTORS
-- God's name taken in vain
--Language
-- Scantily clad actors
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