Noises Off
at Tuscarora

Reviewed on November 23, 2013

Tyler Larkworthy
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Dotty hasn't a clue when to take the sardines off, Garry is forgetting lines, Fredrick disagrees with the stage directions, Selsdon is nowhere to be found, and the show opens in a few hours! Such is the set-up for Tuscarora High School's laugh-out-loud production of Noises Off, an energetic farce detailing the disastrous rehearsal and performance of the fictional show Nothing's On.

Written by Michael Frayn, Noises off was published in 1982 and premiered at London's Lyric Theatre that same year. Opening to incredibly favorable reviews, the play ran at West End until 1987 and opened on Broadway in 1983, earning a Tony nomination for Best Play. The show was also adapted into a 1992 film. Noises Off consists of three acts, each presenting a deeply dysfunctional cast's increasingly calamitous performance of the first act of Nothing's On. After stumbling through a last minute rehearsal in the first act, the set is rotated for the second act and the audience sees backstage clamor during a turbulent performance. In the third act, another performance falls into shambles as a few cast members hopelessly try to ad-lib something resembling a plot.

Character relationships and physical comedy are the essence of Noises Off's hilarity, and Tuscarora was impeccable in both respects. Highly developed and consistent characters, from the exasperated and blunt director, Lloyd, to the absent-minded Brooke, effectively carried the plot while exaggerated movements fit perfectly in student director Alyssa Sera Josep's excellent staging of the show's chaotic action.

As the stuttering, awkward Garry, Stephen Coakley spoke more with his never-ending hand gestures and wild movements than he did with his stammering words. Coakley deftly contrasted Garry's bumbling speech offstage with normalcy in the expressions of Garry's character, Roger. Portraying the character opposite Garry's was Brooke, played by Carly Smith. Constantly losing her contact lenses and mindlessly firing off lines with the show in disarray, Smith was a believable airhead.

As the technical director, Tim, Ben Fuhrmann gave a tired, hasty performance that captured his overworked character well. Whether running off to get flowers, falling asleep on stage, or desperately trying to save the show by insistently reading Freddy's lines in an almost robotic tone, Fuhrman always received roars of laughter. Jessica Matera played the sensitive stage manager, Poppy, with great emotion, exploring her feelings for Lloyd and envy for Brooke while not seeming out of place in the hilarity of the show. The cast's energy and timing started somewhat weak but improved as the show went on, building to memorable scenes of uproarious turmoil during which all cast members maintained their distinct characters.

Success in physical comedy was bolstered by the two-story set, complete with seven doors and adorned with sardine wallpaper. A breakable—and repairable—window pane was a brilliant touch, inciting huge laughs when it was broken the second after it was fully mended. The stage crew worked admirably, rotating the massive set 180 degrees quickly and with minimal distraction from the monologue performed by Tim in between acts two and three.

Tuscarora High School delighted across the board in Noises Off. Over-the-top slapstick physicality, sundry characters, and explosive timing left audience members heaving with laughter as Selsdon brought the show to a close, crying out, "When all around is strife and uncertainty, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned plate of…curtain!"

Kevin Buckley
Stone Bridge High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Loudoun

Ah, the theater--a hub for all to witness relationship problems, intricate combat, and even the archetypal old man who has absolutely no clue where he is. But what happens when these common elements of theater don't describe a show, but rather the theater company putting on the show? The lives of those performers and the effects they have on the actual performance were hilariously explored in Tuscarora High School's production of Noises Off.

Written in 1982 by English playwright Michael Frayn, Noises Off has enjoyed a lucrative history, ranging from an original production that ran for five years in the West End to a more recent 2001 revival starring Patti LuPone that was nominated for a Tony Award, and even a 1992 film starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve. The show-within-a-show farce tells the story of the cast of ‘Nothing On' mere hours from opening night and still riddled with disastrous problems. As the cast attempts to get their ducks in a row, relationship secrets about other cast members begin to spread like wildfire among the company. These relationships cause turmoil in Act 2, when the drama from the rumors causes fights backstage during the disastrous opening night performance. In the final act, the cast performs their show, which ends up being a catastrophe of epic proportion.

As both Garry Lejeune and Roger, Stephen Coakley ingeniously crafted the most uproarious performance of the night. Switching masterfully between the confident Roger and awkward Garry, Coakley owned the stage with distinct mannerisms for both of his characters as well as impeccable comedic timing throughout the show, especially in Act 1, when his inability to articulate a complete sentence to the director consistently garnered laughs. Darcy Pierce, as Belinda, also shined in her role, changing from a serious actress just wanting to get it right in Act 1 to a no-cares trouper who settles for a mop as a scene partner just to get the show over with in Act 3.

Perhaps most impressive about Tuscarora's production was that it was student directed. From top to bottom, senior Alyssa Sera Josep's directorial choices paid off. Expert blocking, especially in scenes where everyone was on stage, created a perfectly-chaotic atmosphere that left no one unseen or outdone. The bold choice to put cast members in the house throughout the first Act also worked extremely well to create the illusion that the audience was witnessing a final dress rehearsal for a completely different show.

The set, designed by Brett Wood and Adara Hotaling, was the standout from the technical side of the production. When facing the audience, the set looked marvelous, creatively replicating an English style home with many doors (often locked) that allowed actors to hit comedic cues perfectly. The ability of the set to be turned around quickly from a home to a backstage area and then back to a home worked well, allowing for speedy and efficient transitions.

Unlike the appalling ‘Nothing On', Tuscarora's production of Noises Off was a gut-busting success. Technically, the creative set both aided actors and was aesthetically pleasing. All in all, Noises Off was a sensational show worthy of the standing ovation it received.

Sarah Midolo
Loudoun Valley HS
Submitted for publication to ShowBizRadio.net

All though the noise may be off backstage, the uproarious laughter from the audience was anything but quiet during Tuscarora High School's performance of, Noises Off. And who can blame them! What's funnier than a show within a show, laughable love triangles, girls in their "knickers", and sardines that can never seem to make their proper exit off stage?

Written in 1982 by Michael Frayn, 'Noises Off' portrays the relationships of a group of actors performing an outright awful show called, Nothing On. After premiering at the Lyric Theatre in London where it was granted the Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy, the British farce continued on to New York in 1983. 'Noises Off' was performed at the Brookes Atkinson Theatre on Broadway and after 553 performances, the slapstick comedy earned Tony nominations in several areas. Finally the show was awarded with a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble. In 1992 the stage production was sent to the big screen in a film adaptation by Marty Kaplan, staring big names such as Carol Brunett and Christopher Reeve.

Tuscarora High's performance of Noises Off was notably one of the most entertaining productions of the year thus far. The play itself proved highly interesting due to its peculiar structure. The first act takes place during the rehearsal of Nothing On, the second act was played in silence backstage during a performance, and the third act closed the show of a production literally on its last leg. With the two worlds, the play-within-a-play 'Nothing On' and the actor's private relationships, beautifully intertwined by the small yet capable cast, the fast paced British comedy commanded the stage.

Anchored by the dynamic acting of Stephen Coakley (Garry Lejeune) and Arianna Dudley (Mrs. Clackett), the actors playing in 'Nothing On' lit up the stage and never once left the audience with a dull scene. Sean Phillips (Lloyd Dallas) portrayed a convincing director torn apart by a love triangle and a show where each rehearsal is worse than the last. A key member in this "behind the scenes" love affair was Carly Smith (Brooke Ashton), who delighted the audience with her ditzy persona and overall refreshing demeanor. An especially commendable aspect of this show was the actor's dedication to physical comedy and perfect team work as a cast. Darby Pierce (Belinda Blaire) and Ben Fuhrmann (Tim Allgood), too, enchanted the stage with their dynamic comedic timing as well as their commitment to their complex characters.

The technical aspects behind this production were just as strong as the performing cast. From the creative set, to the overdone props and the workable costumes, these facets only made 'Noises Off' all the better. Notably, in Act 2 the set turned around to show the "behind stage" area, and the entire air of the show changed. Characters were free to portray themselves, relationships were discovered, and overall hilarity ensued. Not only was the entire set workable, but believable from the audience's perspective as well.

Tuscarora High School's rendition of Noises Off was nothing short of a side-splitting experience enjoyed by all, thanks to the incredible cast, and one that will not soon be forgotten!

Rebecca Frank
TC Williams
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Loudoun

Have you ever wondered what it is like behind the scenes of a show? In Tuscarora High School's entertaining production of Noises Off, all of the backstage drama and shenanigans were revealed!

Written in 1982 by the English playwright Michael Frayn, this farcical comedy tells the story of a group of actors desperately trying to put on a show, despite the occurrence of problem after problem. Actors forget their props, the set does not work properly, and multiple love triangles within the cast complicate everything in a way that had the audience roaring with laughter. The entire cast had great chemistry with one another and their commitment to the almost ridiculous nature of the script ensured that the show was quite enjoyable.

Numerous actors carried the show. A standout was Stephen Coakley (Garry), whose physical humor was well played and made his character a delight to watch. His distinction between the stuttering nervous actor Roger and the poised and proper character Garry demonstrated enjoyable versatility. Another standout was Darcy Pierce, playing the protective and devoted Belinda. She showed complete dedication to her character throughout the play, and her energy never faltered. She transitioned well from the calm and motherly character at the show's beginning to the humorous and fed up actor by the end of the show.

Other notable actors were Ryan Phillips and Ben Fuhrmann. Ryan Phillips played the comedic role of Selsdon, the old and forgetful actor, with great poise, and was able to convincingly portray his age through his attention to details in the way Selsdon walked, spoke and acted. Ben Fuhrmann (Tim) played the awkward stagehand quite well, and got many laughs through his awkward physicality and nice delivery of his many funny lines.

The set for the show was quite detailed and eye pleasing, effectively transitioning from the old British set house to the hectic and more modern looking backstage. The props were also well done, adding to the show's humor, such as when Darcy Pierce's character, Belinda, attempts to continue her scene with a mop as her fellow actor. Though there were some microphone problems, the actors adjusted well, often projecting when malfunctions arose.

The show overall was quite well done, utilizing the whole stage and even making use of the entire auditorium. Clever blocking effectively got the most humor out of the script. Throughout the production, the stagehands coming on stage to periodically fix the set was fine touch, and it was clear that each individual "techie" had a distinct and amusing personality that made them fun to watch. The attention to detail in every scene was also quite impressive. Though there were some times when actors were hard to understand, the noteworthy physical humor displayed throughout the show ensured that the energy was never lost.

In Tuscarora's production of 'Noises Off', the small but lively cast worked very well together and every actor on stage showed great commitment to his or her role. With its laugh out loud humor and physical comedy, Tuscarora made sure that everyone in the audience had a good time.

Gabriella Huelsman
Loudoun Valley HS
Submitted for publication to Husky Headline

Absentminded actors, drumming doors, and soaring sardines were all part of the chaotic night at Tuscarora High School's Noises Off! Where the love triangles are dysfunctional, senile actors are missing; and where everyone just needs a drink. Hold on to your seat because this unconventional comedy will have you falling out of your chair!

A show within a show, Noises Off is a British farce written by Michael Frayn, opening in 1982 at the Lyric Theater in London. This smashing comedy won the Laurence Oliver award for Best New Comedy and was later adapted into a film in 1992. Noises off draws the curtain on the opening night of "Nothings On" where just hours before the show, bumbling actors are clueless of what to do, the director is quickly losing his wits, and the drama backstage is far more enticing then anything that was occurring onstage. Writer Michael Frayn said, "Theatre is funnier from behind than in the front." So as the show progresses to Act 2, it is played from backstage where hysterical misfortune falls upon the actors. The small yet unified cast of Noises Off! worked immensely well together pulling off a hilarious performance.

A must for the show was character dedication and a firm grasp on the characters traits as each actor played two different roles. Garry, played by Stephen Coakley, anchored this while making a dynamic character transition from a panicky mess to a smooth Casanova instantaneously. Opposite of Garry was Brooke, a bubbly yet ditzy actress played by Carly Smith. With the audience in the palm of their hands, the unmatchable duo sent roaring laughter through the auditorium with their physical comedy. Whether they were shimming shoulders, toppling over banisters, or crawling across the floor, their gargantuan movements sent patrons flying out of their seats.

Double-sided and intricately detailed was the enormous set, which showed the front and backstage of the frenzied show. The various levels of the set were used to their fullest extent by all performers. Student director Alyssa Sera Josep executed a phenomenal job. The show was a challenging one to stage, and the crucial comedic timing was done eloquently. Classic chase scenes were integrated into the performance to portray the sidesplitting pandemonium backstage as the actors "blindly stumbled" into the show. Although the anarchy appeared incredibly realistic it was clear the actors had precise blocking and timing, which were achieved seamlessly.

It is said that actors are the hardest people to work with; this is proved to be true after the unforgettable evening at Tuscarora's Noises Off! Character commitment, physical comedy, and comedic timing were true highlights of the performance that showcased each actor's skill. The mighty cast took on the challenge of comedy and mastered it triumphantly. A show for all ages Noises Off sent audience members home with a smile on their face and a rib-tickling feeling of laughter!