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“Noises Off” Takes the Eastern Campus stage
“Noises Off,” called, “The funniest farce ever written,” will be performed by the Theater Department of Ohio University Eastern Campus March 4-6, and 11-13. Thursday evening performances begin at 7pm and all tickets are $4. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8pm with general admission tickets $6 and student and senior discount tickets $4.
Written by Michael Frayn in1982, “Noises Off” quickly became a comic staple of theaters around the globe. The most recent Broadway revival was staged in 2002 and starred Patti LuPone and Peter Gallagher. The New York Daily News called it “Bumper car brilliance” and the New York Post raved, “The funniest farce ever written… Never before has side-splitting taken on a meaning dangerously close to the non-metaphorically medical.”
The play chronicles the misadventures of a down-on-their-luck acting troupe vainly trying to present a third-rate British sex farce called “Nothing On.” The audience witnesses the final dress rehearsal and then two performances on the road as time and mounting tension take their toll on the cast.
The comic centerpiece of the play is Act Two when the “Nothing On” set revolves 180 degrees. The audience gets to experience the play from a completely different perspective.
"Act Two is the great conceit of the play,” said Dennis Fox, theater director. “The revolving set gives the audience a rare opportunity to experience the play much as actors do. The genius of Act Two is that while all of the dialogue is spoken offstage, all of the drama is backstage, now in plain view—and it’s hysterical, of course.” The plot is simple but challenging, non-stop dramatic mayhem from beginning to end.
Fox has assembled a cast of talented Ohio University Eastern Campus students and local actors.
- Playing Dotty Otley, the matriarch of the acting troupe, is Sue-Beth Warren of Wheeling. This is Sue Beth’s first production at the Eastern Campus.
- In the role of Lloyd Dallas, the long-suffering director, is Walt Warren also of Wheeling. Walt was last seen in “Spoon River Anthology.”
- Eastern Campus student Cody Kramer of Martins Ferry is cast as confused and angry actor Garry Lejeune. Kramer, a theater major, was last seen in “The Loman Family Picnic.”
- Playing the attractive but dim-witted Brooke Ashton is Eastern Campus student Brea Knight of Neffs. This is Knight’s first role for the Eastern Campus Theater.
- Iin the role of Poppy Norton-Taylor, the frazzled stage manager, is Patricia Lynn of Martins Ferry. Lynn was last seen in “The Battle of Shallowford.”
- Renno Barnes, an Eastern Campus student from St. Clairsville, plays the earnest but easily upset actor Frederick Fellowes. Barnes was last seen in “The Loman Family Picnic.”
- Belinda Blair, the actress desperately trying to keep everyone happy is played by Connie J. Wendel of Benwood. Wendel was last seen in “Spoon River Anthology.”
- Cast as overworked stage technician Tim Allgood is Shawn Carder of Wheeling. Carder was last seen in “Antigone.”
- Eastern Campus student and theater major Josh DeBeni of Bridgeport, in his first Eastern Campus Theater role is cast as the aged and drunken actor Selsdon Mowbray;
Thursday, March 11 is Talk Back Night. Immediately following the performance, the audience has an opportunity to meet the cast and crew and to ask questions about the production.
For more information or to make reservations contact Fox at 740-699-2340.
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