Blackpool Grand Theatre – until Saturday 7 October 2023
Reviewed by Debra Skelton
5*****
“Laughter, mayhem, and a great deal of slapstick is what you will get so do not miss the opportunity to see this amazing comedy”.
The Theatre Royal Bath Productions in association with Birmingham Rep present Noises Off written by Michael Frayn which can be seen at The Grand Theatre Blackpool until Saturday 07th September.
This is the first time that I have reviewed a comedy and all I can say is I never stopped laughing from start to finish along with the rest of the audience. One of the most common themes in this farce is the abundance of chaos with characters running around trying to prevent one crisis after another which on many an occasion caused more issues with which they then had to resolve.
Noises Off is an extremely amusing play about a touring theatre group as they act out their own play – Nothing On and is portrayed in three acts including final rehearsals for one show, backstage for opening night for another and the final act is the last matinee for the show.
‘Act one’ is set at midnight, the night before the first performance at the fictional Grand Theatre in Weston-super-Mare. It is the technical rehearsal where the cast are desperately unready which results in missed cues and lines, confusion with entrances and exits and annoying props including several plates of Sardines. This results in driving their director Lloyd into a seething rage on several occasions.
‘Act Two’ is at the Theatre Royal in Ashton-under-Lyne (this was an actual theatre that was demolished in 1963) and is a month later and seen from the backstage at the Wednesday matinee performance. It provides a view that emphasises the petty quarrels of lovers, deteriorating relationships between the cast and romantic rivalries which causes mischief offstage including an axe and cactus and uproar and confusion on stage.
‘Act Three’ the final act occurs at the end of the ten-week run of the show at the fictional Municipal Theatre in Stockton-on-Tees. At this point, the cast relationship has plummeted to a low, props are not where they should be and being picked up by the wrong cast member and to top it off cues are being missed and people are on stage when they shouldn’t be. The actors try their best to cover up the mishaps but eventually the plot is abandoned, and the characters take a lead in ad-libbing towards some sort of end.
What I enjoyed about this show besides the wonderful talent was the separate acts as it not only helped in the telling of the story but also gave the cast a chance to show off their talents with which they did admirably.
For me, it was great to see Liza Goddard, Simon Shepherd, and Matthew Kelly with whom I have admired over the years and their performances were truly remarkable along with the rest of the superb cast of Dan Fredenburgh, Lisa Ambalavanar, Nikhita Lesler, Simon Coates, Lucy Robinson and Daniel Rainford.
The production also needs special thanks to Lindsay Posner the director, Simon Higlett for creating such an adaptable set, Gregory Clarke for sound and Paul Pyant for lighting.