Brighton Theatre Royal - Noises Off by Michael Frayn
Director: David Gilmore
It's rare you emerge from a night out at the theatre feeling exhausted, but such was the physical marathon the cast put themselves through last night, most of us felt we'd done it with them. We did, however, have the energy for a long ovation at the end of a massively entertaining show.
Noises Off by journalist and writer Michael Frayn has established itself over the years as one of the classic comedies of the British stage with a string of awards, and this was an excellent production by a cast that successfully mixed youth and experience.
The plot, such as it is, is simple. We are observing the farce Nothing On, over the course of three months in three different venues. Act 1 covers the technical/dress rehearsal before opening night in Weston-Super-Mare, Act 2 a matinee performance in Ashton-under-Lyne, and Act 3 one of the final performances of the tour in Stockton-Upon-Tees.
It's a delightful send-up of the slapstick, tacky British sex comedy so beloved of Seventies theatre, and the laughs come thick and fast. It takes very good actors to successfully play very bad actors, buffetted by inter-cast rivalry and relationships, old veterans who can't remember their lines, or who hit the bottle in between scenes, scenery that doesn't work and performances that gradually fall to pieces in a wonderfully hammed up way.
Part of the genius of Frayn's comedy is that Act 2 takes us backstage, where the feuding, fights and sabotage seeks to undermine the performance out front at every opportunity. The action is fast and frenetic, and the comic timing superb. By Act 3, Nothing On is all over the place - much like its cast - and the laughs are practically non-stop.
An experienced team lead the way with Maggie Steed as veteran thesp Dotty, Jonathan Coy as exasperated director Lloyd, and Richard Hope as wilting violet Freddie in cracking form. Former Dr Who Colin Baker hams it up superbly as deaf tippler Selsdon, and there is sterling support from a hugely energetic Ben Hull (Garry) and Liza Sadovy (Belinda).
Credit, too, to newcomers Laura Matthews (Brooke), Ben Allen (Tim) and Sophie Bould (Poppy) who complete a very high quality cast.
A hoot from start to finish, this is a production you really must see.
And for those of you fond of seafood - sardines figure rather heavily. So that's a bonus.
Russ Bravo
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