‘Noises Off!’ kicks off FRT season
Trending
There is a new life, a new energy at the Forest Roberts Theatre. When you pull into the parking lot your eye is drawn to the top facade of the building where giant colorful banners announce each show of the season proudly and prominently. The remodeled lobby with its sleek modern decor and furniture welcomes you. The whole place practically crackles with electric energy. There's a new sheriff in town. Bill Digneit is the new director of theatre at NMU, and he is set to make his mark on the local theater community in a big way.
Many changes to the schedule, the lineup of shows, even the structure of the department (the dance minor was recently merged with the theater department, for example) is evolving and it is exciting to watch.
"Noises Off!" is the first production of the season and it is an exciting show to watch.
A very brief summary of the show, cribbed from the Forest Roberts Facebook page says, "This classic farce by Michael Frayn presents a manic cast of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called 'Nothing's On.' Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and errant sardines all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play. Let this slap-stick story pull you inside the world of the theatre itself!"
This barely scratches the surface of what you will see as the play unfolds. The play opens on the final rehearsal before the fictional show "Nothing On" is set to open. It is not going well, to say the least. It is well into the wee hours of the night and the cast is clearly unready for their opening the next day. The director's frustration is quite apparent as things move forward. The second act takes place a month later and is presented from backstage---the entire set rotates during intermission -- and the cast and crew members' relationships and tolerance for one another have clearly degenerated. The final act takes place at the final performance of the show and is again presented from the "normal" view, from the stage side of the set. By this time the cast and crew are simply trying their best to make it through the last show without killing one another ... This show, produced well, is one of the funniest shows ever written. Poorly presented, it can be almost painful to sit through. Thankfully, this show is well directed and produced top to bottom and is a guaranteed laugh for all.
This show requires an exceptionally tight ensemble cast to make it work. They have to have a sixth sense about what everyone else is doing at all times. Pay attention. Be in tune. Be a unit. There's no other way to have the timing required for the second act where there is action both "backstage" (our view) and "onstage" (behind the set). Chaos and mayhem are harder to create convincingly onstage than one might imagine. This cast is very strong. They have put in the time, sweated the details, done the repetitions needed to make it all work, without losing the fresh "this is happening for the first time" feel that the show needs to work. Kudos to the husband/wife directing team of Paul and Keli Truckey. Life is a circle and Paul has come full circle with this show. "Noises Off!" was last produced at the FRT with Paul Truckey in the cast. Now he is directing it. Paul is in his element with comedy. Keli is a stickler for timing and detail. Together they have worked this show and this cast to a fever pitch of action and slapstick comedy. Not an easy task. Kudos.
Technical aspects of this show are giant "cast members" in and of themselves. The set, a lovely English home with a long stairway and landing and many (seven? eight?) functioning doors is a challenge to design and build if only the front side was to be seen by the audience. But the whole thing must turn for the second act so the audience and see what happens back stage during the show. There are two intermissions in this production -- I recommend that you stay in your seat for one of them and watch the artful choreography of the technical team as they make the transition. It is very entertaining to behold. The set was designed by Vic Holliday and construction started over the summer with the director and Steve McClain creating the basic structure. David Pierce's skilled crew got to work as soon as the semester began to complete it and every moment of their efforts shows. The sound design by Bill Digneit is great. Again, the second act, where there is action on both sides of the set is hard to pull off well, and impossible if the cast and the audience cannot hear what is going on "onstage." The sound design is natural sounding. The voices from back stage are distant without being muffled. Not an easy task to achieve. Costume design deserves special mention. Susan Candey obviously had a blast capturing the look of the 70s with her costume design. The women's clothing is all period correct and fun ... but it is the director's attire that really nails it down. From his open shirt and necklace to the disco "Angel Flite" style pants (ouch -- I am dating myself because I know what those are!), the costume looks like one that Barry Gibb would have been comfortable in during the height of the disco era. Bravo.
Here is where I will run into a little journalistic difficulty. Cast and performance mentions. I could and probably should single out everyone's performances for mention. The cast is a very solid collection of talented individuals, well cast and well directed. But space is limited, so I will only mention a few. Ethan Bott does a great job portraying Lloyd Dallas, the director who is exacting and demanding and quite frustrated with his cast and the show. He is trying to juggle a relationship with both Poppy and Brooke, and not so successfully with either. Regan McKay plays Poppy, the assistant stage manager and understudy to all the female roles. She was great fun to watch and quite believable in her role. She works behind the scenes in many productions, so being the overworked stage manager came very naturally to her. Lily Howder is a hoot as Dotty Otley, an aging television actress who is also one of the show's major investors. Dotty has a tough time with all her cues, obviously used to performing on TV where you can do another take if you mess up. A bit absent minded and in love with the much younger leading man Gary, Lily owns her role. Finally I have to mention Taylor Ehle. She plays Brooke, a young and inexperienced actress who is essentially unaware of the world and people around her, unless they are fawning over her. She is essentially blind without her contacts (which she loses frequently) and is of course sleeping with the director. Taylor is in her wheelhouse doing this kind of comedic role. Her timing and delivery of her lines is spot on and her physical commitment to the role is outstanding. As I said, I should list and mention everyone in the cast...a fine show all around.
"Noises Off!" opens tonight. If you buy tickets for the opening night you will also be treated to a premiere party and have refreshments and have a meet and greet with the cast and crew of this fine production.
The show dates and times are as follows: 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday, Thursday, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7; and 1 p.m. Saturday and Oct. 7.
Tickets are available at all NMU EZ Tickets outlets as well as at the FRT Box office or online at nmu.edu/tickets or by calling the box office at 906-227-1032. If you want to witness the start of a new and exciting era at the FRT, or simply want an evening full of laughs, see the show. You can watch whatever online later, but live theater is just that, LIVE! It is a great experience.
Editor's note: Martyn Martello is a local director and actor.