Beck Center for the Arts mines comedic gold with the laugh riot ‘Noises Off’

When one first discovers that Michael Frayn’s English mad-cap comedy “Noises Off” lasts two and a half hours that includes two intermissions it might put you off on seeing the show. Let me put your mind at rest. This show is so outrageous, so truly funny and so fast moving that the time flies by. The show, directed by Scott Spence is currently onstage in the Senney Theater at the Beck Center for the Arts.

Act One features a terribly under-prepared theatrical company struggling through a technical rehearsal for a show titled “Nothing On” in the Grand Theatre in Weston-super-Mare. Lines are flubbed or miss-read, cues are missed, props are manhandled and egos crash into each other. With opening night only 24 hours away, the director, Lloyd Dallas (Stephen Mitchell Brown) is desperately trying to whip the cast into shape. He eventually completely loses his temper as everything goes wrong.

His cast consists of Dotty (Nanna Ingvarsson) who plays Mrs. Clakett, caretaker of the estate. Off stage, Dotty is sleeping with a much younger man, Gary LeJeune (Eric Fancher) who plays Roger Tamplemain. Gary thinks that Dotty is having an affair with Freddy (Frederick) Fellowes who plays Philip Brent. Freddy suffers from spells anytime he gets upset (which is often). Brooke Ashton (Bella Serrano) plays Vicki who blindly muddles through no matter what distractions are falling around her (including the frequent loss of her contact lenses). She is Gary’s love interest in the show. Belinda Blair (Sasha Wilson) plays Flavia Brent (Freddy’s love interest) and is the peace keeping glue that is trying hard to keep the crew together. There is also Selsdon Mowbray (Bob Keefe) a half deaf older actor with a drinking problem. Lastly, there is Poppy Norton (Kelly Strand), who is the terribly insecure Assistant Stage Manager who is far out of her depth.

Have you gotten that all straight? Good...there’s more. Lloyd is sleeping with both Vicki and Poppy who has a surprise for him.

Act Two takes place on the road at the Theatre Royal in Ashton-under-Lyne one month later. The stage has been completely flipped and you see all the antics that are happening in full view backstage as relationships deteriorate, personal quarrels lead to sabotage, misdirected deliveries of flowers and a cactus occur, a bottle of booze is passed around, pure bedlam ensues and an occasional fire ax attack happens.

Act Three has the stage in view once more at the fictional Municipal Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees where all hell breaks loose. There are a series of set break downs and misdirected props (in the wrong hands, on the floor and blocking access to key parts of the stage). In spite of this, the actors are determined to shoulder on and finish the show no matter what as the original plot is finally abandoned and a free for all ad lib fest ensues.

With comedy, timing is everything and this cast has it down to the split second. It can be said that each person is perfect in their part. The revolving stage set by Cheri Prough-DeVol is pure genius. Kevin Duchon’s lighting is inspired. Inda Blatch-Geib does a remarkable job with the costumes and Carlton Guc’s sound design is crystal clear.

Pratfalls, slapstick, miss-direction and perfect comedic timing makes this the much see comedy event of the year. It is British comedy at its best. You will literally laugh yourself silly. Do not miss this one!

The Beck Center for the Arts production of “Noises Off” will be on stage in the Senney Theater located at 17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, ohio through April 16, 2023. For more information and to purchase tickets go to www.beckcenter.org or call (216) 521-2540.