Noises Off

Arts Theatre couldn’t have chosen a better play than Noises Off to celebrate their 1000^th production. Ever since it premiered in 1982, Michael Frayn’s comedy has been called the “funniest play ever written” and this production goes a long way to proving that point.

The conceit of a troupe of third-rate actors touring a traditional West-End sex farce Nothing On around the English provinces, and what happens on-stage and off as they indulge in their off-stage dalliances as the performance disintegrates into chaos, is brilliant. Frayne has continued to update the play since its first production (the last time in 2000), which has meant it still has contemporary currency.

Director Alex Lanham’s ensemble cast were at the top of their game. There wasn’t a weak link amongst any of them. Split-second timing, pratfalls, and multiple door-slamming, all on cue, as they searched for lost contact lenses and misplaced sardines was farce at its finest.

Victoria Costa’s hilarious turn as the harassed maid Mrs Clackett reached its zenith when she began dropping sardines from under her skirt. It really was funny-funny! Hayley Fielding, who spent most of the night in sexy underwear, was appropriately vacuous and vague as Brooke, and a riot losing her contact lenses, whilst Jon Darbro as Lloyd the frustrated director and Brooke’s paramour displayed acute comic acting chops. Riley McNamara as Philip was adept at losing-his-pants and trying to stem nosebleeds with tissues, Jessica Moore nicely ad-libbed infinitum as Flavia, while Michael Stent turned frenzy into an art as the hapless ASM, Tim.

Rounding out this group of more-than-competent farceurs was Damien Campagnolo’s opinionated and self-important Gary, Shaun King’s always missing cues alcoholic Selsdon, and Gabby Carbon’s pregnant stage manager, Poppy.

Chancie Jessop’s on-stage and backstage sets worked a treat, with Frances Foo’s costumes, Cameron Smith’s lighting, and Zoe Power and Samuel Harvey’s sound adding to the professionalism of the production. Arts Theatre really pulled a rabbit out of the hat for this one. It was community theatre at its best.

Peter Pinne