By Darlene Donloe
Doors slam, sardines fly, and trousers drop in Michael Frayn’s, ‘Noises Off,’ a side-splitting British farce about a theater company desperately trying to get their act together.
Both onstage and backstage, chaos reigns for a troupe of floundering actors whose forgotten lines, mixed-up blocking, misplaced props, and steamy romantic entanglements make it nearly impossible for the show to go on.
An uproarious love letter to the theater, ‘Noises Off’ is a peek behind the curtain—where everything that can go wrong does!
‘Noises Off,’ packed with three acts of noise and lots of fun, is a hilarious masterclass in farce. It’s a chaotic, hilarious evening of theater that lays the absurdity on thick – in a good way.
This clever play-within-a-play is expertly crafted to showcase the bedlam that can ensue when an ill-fated theater company attempts to stage a run-of-the-mill sex comedy.
The three-act play's setup is simple yet brilliant.
Act I presents the disastrous dress rehearsal of "Nothing On," a second-rate farce featuring a cast of bumbling actors.
As the rehearsal progresses, the actors' personal relationships, peculiarities, and clumsiness disrupt the production.
Act II takes the audience backstage, where the real drama unfolds.
Tensions, romantic entanglements, and petty squabbles among the exceptional cast reach a boiling point, threatening to destroy the entire production.
The third act returns to the stage, where the now-exhausted and frazzled cast struggles to get through the final performance.
Hilarity follows as the actors' mistakes, disasters, and miscommunications create a catastrophic spectacle.
Frayn's script contains clever wordplay, physical comedy, and witty one-liners.
The play's crafty structure seamlessly shifts between the on-stage and backstage worlds, adding to the comedic mayhem.
The cast's performances are equally impressive, with each actor bringing their unique brand of humor and charm to their role.
The ensemble's impeccable timing and chemistry make the play's complex physical comedy and rapid-fire dialogue look effortless.
"Noises Off" is a comedic tour-de-force that will leave audiences in stitches.
With its ingenious script, talented cast, and expertly crafted chaos, this play is a must-see for anyone who loves comedy, theater, or just a good laugh.
Director Anna D. Shapiro has amassed a brilliant group of actors, which is why this play works.
This show is a crack-up!! All cylinders are firing. There isn’t one weak link in this show.
‘Noises Off,’ written by Michael Frayn, and directed by Anna D. Shapiro, stars Ora Jones, Vaneh Assadourian, Amanda Fink, Audrey Francis, Rick Holmes, David Lind, James Vincent Meredith, Francis Guinan, and Max Stewart.
The show is a co-production with Steppenwolf Theatre Company.
On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), ‘Noises Off’ gets an E (excellent).
“Noises Off,” Geffen Playhouse, Gil Cates Theater, 10866 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, through March 9.
Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including two intermissions.
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