Written in 1982 by Michael Frayn, Noises Off has been described as “the funniest farce ever written”. Frayn was inspired to write Noises Off in 1970, after watching a performance of another farce from the wings. He realised the play was funnier to watch from behind than it was from the audience, and thought he should write a farce from behind. This reflection is evident even in Noises Off. The first act is a little slow going, with less laughs than anticipated in a play regarded as “the funniest farce ever written”. However, it all works out okay. The second act more than makes up for it, with so much hilarity it’s hard to know where to look.
Noises Off is a play about a theatre group putting on a cheeky bedroom farce called “Nothing On”. It’s a play within a play and the actors are playing actors who are playing characters. Inside our programs was even a program for Nothing On with full cast bios, production credits and sponsors – all entirely fictitious and worth a read!
It is the dress rehearsal of Nothing On and with just one day to opening night, the cast are clearly not ready. Lines are missed or jumbled, props are forgotten, cast are missing and the director is clearly frustrated. It’s a farce in the styling of the British comedies popular through the 50s to 70s. It’s like a Carry On movie meets The Play That Goes Wrong.
The scene opens inside a seemingly lavish two storey home, with Dotty Otley (played by Jacinta Birchall, and playing the role of Mrs Clackett) mumbling and fumbling through her opening lines in quite a dither. Something about tax audits, sardines, the owner being overseas and watching the royal something on tv. An audience member a few seats nearby muttered “I didn’t catch any of that”. In reality, the lines are somewhat superfluous. Some directions are called out and suddenly Dotty is speaking in a beautiful and clear voice – out of her character of Mrs Clackett and now as the actor Dotty Otley. And then the laughs started. I lost count of the number of name variations of Mrs Clackett’s character, but it seemed to be a different name every time.
In Nothing On – our play within the play – Mrs Clackett is the housekeeper for married couple Philip and Flavia Brent, who have secretly arrived back in the country and plan to stay incognito in their country holiday home. Meanwhile, real estate agent Roger Tramplemain is bringing his date Vicki to the home, expecting it to be vacant. And to add to the chaos, a burglar also decides to break in on the same day. It all ends up with people going in one door, out another, trying to work out who else might be in the house in a typical farcical style. But it was probably the arrival of Rhiannon Stephens as Vicki, with her extremely stiff acting, and subtly mouthing every line, as a stereotypical blond bombshell, but poor actor, that really set the comedic tone early in act one. Before we know it, Vicki is in her underwear and missing her dress.
By interval, the audience is full of smiles, but it’s act two when things really turn around. I won’t give away any spoilers, but let’s just say it all becomes hilariously complicated.
Noises Off is very much an ensemble work and the experience of the entire cast shines through as the rather inept cast and crew of Nothing On. Jacinta Birchall is delightfully dotty as Dotty Otley. Rob Blowers is a charming Garry Lejeune. Kate Bowers brings a wonderful hautiness to her role of Belinda Blair. Rowan Francis is fabulous as Selsdon Mowbray. Rosy Leonardi is endearing as Poppy Norton- Taylor the stage manager, Chris McClean gives a commanding performance as director Lloyd Dallas. Stephen Shinkfield is excellent as Frederick Fellowes. Rhiannon Stephens gives a brilliant performance as Vicki. And Aaron Wilson is fabulous as Tim Allgood.
Costumes (Jayne Ruddick, Brigitte Thompson and Aylee Jones) and makeup and wigs (Claire Bowers) perfectly set the era and tone of each character. The quality set (designed by Justin Stephens and Chris Proctor) elicited an audible wow from the audience as the curtains opened. An excellent lighting design by Robin Le Blond and sound design by Justin Stephens complement the set. And huge credit to the crew who must have been working very hard during interval.
Director Justin Stephens has delivered an outstanding and hilarious production of Noises Off. While the play within the play, Nothing On is somewhat of a disaster, Noises Off is a slick, fast paced and hilarious farce that had the opening night audiences in fits of laughter and leaving the theatre still smiling. It all makes for a thoroughly entertaining night of theatre and the perfect final season for the year.
Noises Off is now playing at the 1812 Theatre in Upper Ferntree Gully. For more details: https://www.1812theatre.com.au/noises-off/
Photo credit: Goldi Kaye (PopPicsGold)
