Michael Frayn’s Noises Off was called “the funniest farce ever written!” by the New York Post and a “festival of delirium” by the New York Times. Shelagh Grasso directs the Church Hill Theatre production from September 11 to 27. Noises Off won the 1982 Laurence Oliver award for best play and was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk best play awards.
The three acts of Noises Off portray different performances of the sexy British farce Nothing On, with both back-stage and front of the house views. Love affairs, missed cues, missing sardines and plenty of character flaws ensure that Nothing On isn’t likely to make it to Broadway. Noises Off characters include the director, his stage crew and an assortment of has-been and wanna-be actors. The Nothing On characters portray the residents of a stately British country home and their unexpected visitors.
Will Robinson plays Lloyd Dallas, the temperamental director of Nothing On. He is assisted by Stage Manager Timothy Allgood, played by John Haas, and an Assistant Stage Manager, the emotional Poppy Norton-Taylor, played by Christine Kinlock. Allgood and Norton-Taylor also understudy roles in Nothing On. The Nothing On cast includes Mrs. Clackett, the forgetful older actress Dotty Otley (played by Maggie Garey; Roger, a shady real estate agent portrayed by the stuttering actor Garry Lejeune (played by Ricky Vitanovic); the headstrong ingénue Vicki, the actress Brooke Ashton (played by Heather Oland), the home owner Philip Brent, the dim and pompous actor Freddy Fellowes (played by Patrick J. Fee); Flavia Brent, the reliable actress Belinda Blair (played by Jane Copple); an elderly burglar, the tipsy actor Selsdon Mowbray (played by Pat Patterson); and a mysterious sheikh interested in renting the house (played by Freddy/ Fee).
Sheila Grasso’s production team will have its hands full, as the complex set is an integral part of the fun and all the exits, entrances and door slams require fine-tuned choreography. Her Producers are Sally Borghardt and Julie Lawrence. Stage Manager Michelle Christopher is assisted by Robbie Spray. Technical Director Carmen Grasso worked with Shelagh Grasso and Brian Draper to design and decorate the set. Costume design is by Barbie Bidell and Lighting design by Nic Carter.
Noises Off runs from September 11-27, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm. CHT offers special 2 for the price of 1 ticket on opening night, Friday, September 11 for those who reserve by phone. Call the box office at 410-556-6003 or visit the website www.churchhilltheatre.org for details and reservations.
Front photo: Center Lloyd (Will Robinson) attempts to direct “Noises Off” characters left to right, Garry (Ricky Vitanovic), Selsdon (Pat Patterson), Belinda (Jane Copple) and Brooke (Heather Oland) in Church Hill Theatre’s production of the farce “Noises Off” playing weekendsSept. 11 through Sept. 27.
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