“Noises Off” brings the raucous
The cast from “Noises Off” performs in a scene from the third act, attempting to structure their chaos of a play within a play. The preview took place on March 27, and the play will be running from the 28th of March to April 13.
March 31, 2014
There is no adequate explanation for what DVC’s “Noises Off” really is.
It is a clever mix of wit, dirty humor, and comedic situations that bring about a masterpiece of comedy.
With an imaginative potpourri of extreme characters and quirky happenings that follow the events of a final rehearsal, a selected night in the run, and closing night of a play, the farcical adventure grips the audience with riotous laughter and memorable moments in this fine selection from the season.
This English farce, written by Michael Frayn and directed by Ed Trujillo, tells the tale of hijinks and misfortune of a troupe of actors behind the scenes of a play within a play.
Beginning during the final rehearsal before opening, “Noises Off’s” tale progresses into a night from the fictional play’s run during Act Two. Finally, the third act shows the disastrous state the play has fallen into by the frustration and misinterpretation of the various events beforehand in the supposed play’s run.
The comedy is constantly built upon the English slapstick of the show. Of which, arises in various forms, with every character after each other’s throat — combined with the wackiness that ensues when an unforeseen problem arises backstage of the main stage performance.
Further, each and every character is skillfully played by actors who understand the need to not take the roles too seriously.
Most of the humor follows from the fluidity of each character, and vis-à-vis the actor, in being able to perform comfortably in a raucous and romping plot that mixes the antics of real-life backstage drama and the bordering absurdity that is the genre of farces.
There are many other attributes to this play that enhance the sense of the “play within a play”. The set, when the curtain rises, is a quaint English country house in the 80’s style from when the play was written. Filled with doors galore, there is not a single piece of this set that is not useful in the plot.
However, when the opening night begins within the play, the entire set is turned around to reveal the backstage innards, where the scene is set for act two.
Several characters especially shined in the amazing cast. The drunken actor Selsdon, played by Dan Cassilagio, was one such role wherein the complete characterization of the role, from the mannerisms and walking to his speaking, stole the show in many incidents. Other roles that caught the eye were the ditsy Brooke Ashton, played by Mariah Ramblas; the cockney Dotty Otely, played by Moselle Davis-Koffman, and the quasi straight-woman Belinda Blair, played by Jessica Dahlgren.
In all regards, “Noises Off” was a masterful comedy that relays to the audience a simple message: theater is hell.
“Noises Off” opened on March 28th and runs until April 13th.
