Follow North East Theatre Guide on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NETheatreGuide and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NETheatreGuide. Read about JoWhereToGo and its PR
and photography services here.
The Farce
That Goes Wrong!
Nottingham
Playhouse Theatre Company, Northern Stage and Nuffield present:
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
Noises Off
Newcastle
Northern Stage
Until Saturday 28th May 2016
Writer Michael Frayn
Directed by Blanche
McIntyre
Designer Robert Innes Hopkins
Lighting
Designer Jason Taylor
Sound Designer George Dennis
Sound Designer George Dennis
Noises Off is a
hilarious farce within a farce. It does for farces what The Play That Goes Wrong does for murder mysteries, it is a clever
look in to the chaos that can lie behind getting a show onto the stage.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
The show begins during the over running technical rehearsal of a play
about the home of playwright, Frederick Fellows (John Elkington), who is in tax
exile in Spain. He has left his house in the care of Dotty (Carla Mendonça) who simply
wants to enjoy some sardines and watch the Royals on tv.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
The house agent that is looking after the rental of the house decides to
make use of the house thinking that it is Dotty’s half day off. Agent Gary
(Patrick Osborne) has bought champagne in order to entertain tax inspector
Brooke (Sophia Nomvete).
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
As Gary and Brooke head off to the bedroom, the owners of the house Frederick and Belinda (Becci Gemmell) decide
to return for their anniversary.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
The tech rehearsal is not without problems. Director Lloyd (Orlando
Wells) struggles to ensure the props are in the right place and that the set
works. He is assisted by deputy stage manager Poppy (Ritu Arya) and crew member
Tim (Brian Lonsdale). Lloyd’s problems
are exacerbated by the decision to cast the long in the tooth former-star, who
has a drink problem, Selsdon Mowbray (Robin Bowerman).
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
The first act follows the problems of trying to get a show ready in the
early hours of the day in which it opens. They have only had a fortnight to
rehearse and hence the sardines and doors are not always in the right
positions. In an amusing act, the
audience meet the cast members and see how their idiosyncratic behaviours rub
off on one another.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
In the second act the show moves to later in the plays run and, cleverly,
the set is reversed to reveal the mayhem behind the set. This is the real treat of the production. As
the play is running on the other side of the set the cast are silent as they
fall out with one another. It is like a modern silent film like The Plank. The regular slapstick moments
had the Northern Stage audience in regular laughter.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
Like all good comedy, this show is very tight and the cast do a brilliant
job in keeping the action flowing. There
are no weak links in the talented ensemble. Director Blanche McIntyre has
ensured that the action is constantly flowing and each character is given a
chance to be liked by the audience. This acceptance of the odd ball cast helps
make the climaxes more entertaining.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
The set design by Robert Innes Hopkins and sound design by George Dennis
both play their part in setting up many of the funny scenarios. No joke is
repeated too often that they become tired. In fact the show had a nicely fresh
feel to it.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
Noises Off is a very funny show that has great comic timing from a very
talented and likeable cast. A splendid
way to spend an evening at Northern Stage.
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
This
review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com).
Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo
on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo
Read
the North East Theatre Guide Preview: http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/review-save-last-dance-for-me-at.html
Full cast:
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
RITU ARYA – Poppy Norton Taylor
ROBIN BOWERMAN - Selsdon Mowbray
JOHN ELKINGTON – Frederick Fellowes
BECCI GEMMELL - Belinda Blair
BRIAN
LONSDALE – Tim Allgood
CARLA MENDONÇA – Dotty
SOPHIA NOMVETE – Brooke Ashton
PATRICK OSBORNE – Garry
PATRICK OSBORNE – Garry
ORLANDO WELLS –
Lloyd Dallas
On The Web
Interview
with director Blanche McIntyre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziztSzJzO9g
 |
| Photo: Robert Day |
Tickets:
Tue - Fri & Sat matinees:
£24, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Saturday Evenings:
14 May, 21 May, 28 May - 7.30pm
£25, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Tue - Fri & Sat matinees:
£24, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Saturday Evenings:
14 May, 21 May, 28 May - 7.30pm
£25, £19.50, £14.50
Students/Under 21s: £12
Concessions Available
Post-show
discussion: Tue 17
May
Tickets and Information: 0191 230 5151
Book online: www.northernstage.co.uk
Book online: www.northernstage.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment