If you ask me…
– Tom Holehan
LEGACY THEATRE OFFERS A BUSY “NOISES OFF”
“Noises Off”, one of the best backstage farces ever written, has a pretty good production going on right now at the Legacy Theatre. The Branford theatre, which in August offered an impressive revival of “Sweeney Todd”, deserves plenty of credit for producing back-to-back productions with a high difficulty quotient. Good for them!
Michael Frayn’s frenetic joyride about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of a British sex comedy and its riotous cast of backstabbers looking to kill each other, is one of the most brilliantly conceived farces in recent memory. Taking place over three acts we see only the first act of “Nothing On”, a truly terrible sex farce, played out over three different acts. One sequence, ingeniously, is set backstage while the show is going on. This scene alone is a masterclass in silent activity with the final act showing how the entire chaotic mess finally comes together.
Under Keely Baisden Knudsen’s busy direction, “Noises Off” is often more frantic than funny at Legacy. It’s an exhausting show but shouldn’t be for the audience. There are definite lulls here and there which points to perhaps a limited rehearsal period, but there’s enough potential with a talented cast to suggest that the comedy will eventually hit its stride.
In the meantime, there is still much to recommend with this rendering. The acting company gets a big lift with James Roday Rodriguez’s playing of world-weary director, Lloyd Dallas. With a raised eyebrow and a passive aggressive sneer, Rodriguez makes every line hit its mark. Character actor Kurt Fuller also scene-steals with glee as Selsdon, the company’s hammy old alcoholic. The ever-reliable Jimmy Johansmeyer along with Allison Miller, Jamie Gray Hyder, Emily Gardt, Michael Trotter, Melanie Martyn and Maria Sage keep the hilarity on a low simmer throughout sporadically bursting forth with the outrageous laughs the farce can deliver.
Major technical kudos go to designer Kim Zhou whose perfectly detailed two-story set at opening spins around after intermission to reveal a realistic backstage area. Jamie Burnett’s customary fine lighting and Martha Becker’s costuming both do the job admirably. Once the pacing improves and the actors settle into their roles, “Noises Off” will be a first-rate revival for Legacy.
“Noises Off” continues at the Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Road, Branford, Connecticut through October 12. For further information or ticket reservations call the theatre box office at: 203.315.1901 or visit: www.legacytheatrect.org.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
