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Did you participate in Theatre in high school/college? If not, let me show you what you missed out on: DRAMA! Drama like you’ve never seen – it’s tangled, messy, and you get told “keep the drama on the stage!” every single day because you’re all participating in the drama happening backstage in some way and, wow, is your director tired of it!
That’s all I could think of while laughing endlessly at Noises Off. This show is a play within a play, where we get to watch this acting troupe as they go through their messy lines on stage, and then through their even messier lives offstage, from dress rehearsal, to opening performance, all the way to one of their last performances towards the end of the run. It allows us to see into the multifaceted world of Theatre, and the audience loved every second of it.
We start by watching the dress rehearsal, and this is where we first meet Dotty, who plays Mrs. Clackett in the play within the play. Dotty/Mrs. Clackett is played by Gigi Cervantes, who opens our show like a jolt of lightning that lets the audience know we are in for one wild ride. Cervantes is melodramatic in the absolute best way, and she plays so well with Jakie Cabe, who is the director, Lloyd Dallas. Cabe had a quickness about him that perfectly bounced off every actor he engaged with and seems as if he’s been playing this role his whole life. Cabe was perfectly cast in this role, as was David Fenley. Fenley played Selsdon Mowbary who plays the burglar in the show-within- the-show. Watching Fenley was like watching a masterclass in acting. He inhabits the role perfectly and seems very at home there.
Every actor has the audience cackling, though. Leroy Hood, who plays Garry, has precise comedic timing that works the audience in the right way. Mattie Davis, who plays Brooke, is amazing all the way through, but particularly stands out in the third act where she becomes all of us who have ever had to keep a play going on our own. Then there’s the incomparable Emily Truelove who plays Poppy, our stage manager for the play within the play. Truelove is particularly fun to watch for all of the stage managers in the house because you can deeply relate to all of her emotions. Truelove nails it! Next up is Billy Betsill and Brandy Raper who were a joy to watch, sharing incredible chemistry! Raper imbraces the unofficial “stage mom” of the group, who is sincerely trying to keep everyone and everything together, before the entire show falls apart. Finally, Joshua Nerio has some of the funnest body language that makes you feel exhausted for him! The type of fatigue that you can only feel when working on a set.
Noises Off is one you’ll want to see again and again! The intense hilarity grows even stronger with each act within the play. I have never laughed so much at a show, and I can’t wait for everyone else to experience it! Get your tickets at theatrearlington.org
Be Well!
Aubrey Tarantino
Accessible seating: Available
Hearing Devices Available: Available
Sensory Friendly Showing: Not Available
Audience Rating: PG-13: for mature content
Production Sound Level: Comfortable
Noises and Visuals to Know About: None
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