A-LISTS theatre by john bilow
WHO IS
WHO IN
THE PLAY WITHIN
THE PLAY’S THE
THING Noises Off, the hysterical farce written by Michael Frayn, comes to the La Mirada The-
atre this month and this one is truly a must-see. While there are plenty of funny, cleverly written, and witty plays out there, Noises Off is unique in that it’s a play within a play. Essentially, the actors are pretending to be actors performing in a touring production of a dreadfully bad play by the name of Nothing On. Keeping track of the different levels of reality in this show keeps the audience on their toes for sure.
Noises Off takes the audience “behind the scenes” of
a stage production as the characters prepare for, and perform, in the touring production of Nothing On. The audience sees the “actors” (really the first level charac- ters) for what they really are, self-absorbed, cheating, insecure, and overly sensitive, actors performing in the play Nothing On. Riding hard on the characters is the volatile director
Lloyd Dallas, who is tasked with coaxing performances from the actors, whose off-stage drama constantly threatens to overflow into their on-stage personas. The challenges Dallas faces include a love triangle which he is a part of, another actress trying to make her boyfriend jealous by pretending to be interested in another man, an alcoholic actor who stashes booze on stage, an actor with a stutter and a pregnant member of the crew. Noises off is broken up into three acts: Act one takes
place at the dress rehearsal the day before opening night. We are introduced to the “cast” of Nothing On as the characters are still working out the kinks. They are still forgetting lines, missing cues and learning the layout of the stage. Act two takes place a month later during a perfor-
mance in a new town as the touring production of the show continues. This act takes place entirely “back stage” as we begin to see the personal lives of the characters unravel and overflow into their professional lives. Nutti- ness ensues as the drama begins to come to a head.
By the time act three takes place, we’re near the end
of the tour and the actors are anxious to move on and be finished with the play. Their personal drama hasn’t gotten any better and it continues to affect their per- formances. It is the culmination of all the backstabbing, incompetence and insecurity that has plagued the characters from the beginning. At its core, Noises Off is a hysterically funny play about
the “real lives” of characters who are actors performing in the painfully bad play Nothing On. The show is like an on- ion in that there are levels within levels of reality—and in the sense that you will laugh so hard you’ll cry. Noises Off takes place Friday, September 23 through
Sunday, October 16 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada. Ticket prices range from $35 to $50. There will also be two “talkback nights” Wednesday, September 28 and Wednesday, October 12, during which the cast and crew will take questions from the audience. La Mirada may seem off the beaten path for some but
before prejudging, consider that Money Magazine listed the city of La Mirada as one of the best places to live and specifically referenced the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts as one of the city’s best attributes.
For tickets and more information visit the theatre’s website at
lamiradatheatre.com or call the box office at 562.944.9801.
NOISES OFF?
Who’s Pretending to be Whom? A cheat sheet for the characters of Noises Off and who they are pretending to be in the play within a play of Nothing On.
LLOYD DALLAS, the mercurial director of Nothing On
DOTTY OTLEY, an older, somewhat spacey woman who plays mind games while dating Garry by pretending to be interested in Fredrick. She portrays Mrs. Clackett, a housekeeper.
GARRY LEJEUNE, an actor with a bad stutter, the victim of Dotty’s affection. He portrays a real estate agent named Roger.
BELINDA BLAIR, a dependable actress with an upbeat personality. She portrays Flavia Brent, wife of Phillip.
FREDRICK FELLOWS, a difficult actor who constantly doubts his character’s motivations and dialogue. He portrays Phillip Brent, a tax evader and husband of Flavia. He also portrays Sheikh, a man interested in renting the Brents’ home and who looks exactly like Phillip.
BROOKE ASHTON, a self-absorbed young actress oblivious to other people and her surroundings. She plays Vicky, a tax agent who has the hots for Roger.
SELSDON MOWBRAY, an alcoholic actor in his later years who stashes booze on stage. He portrays a burglar who breaks into Flavia and Phillip’s house.
20
RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2011
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