Dallas Review: “Noises Off” at Theatre Three
Shawn Stalter, Chief Dallas/Ft. Worth Critic
Around this time of year, most of us desperately need a jolt of raw energy, other than a nitro grande cold brew espresso, to recharge our batteries and prepare us to endure the demands of the holiday season. An endless parade of ugly sweater parties, marathon online shopping sessions and meticulous attention to yard decor occupy our waking hours. Fortunately, Dallas’ Theatre Three offers the perfect solution to hit the pause button on the holidays for a few hours with their smartly-executed, fully-immersive and downright hilarious production of “Noises Off.”
In Michael Frayn’s farce “Noises Off,” audiences enjoy an unfiltered, voyeur’s-eye view of an American theatre company as they rehearse for, then perform, the fictitious British comedy, “Nothing On.” This unique play-within-a-play (play-ception?) construct not only showcases the blood, sweat and tears which congeal to make a show come together, but also highlights the drama which frequently occurs both on stage and behind the curtain.
Under the direction of Kara-Lynn Vaeni, the cast and crew of Theatre Three hit a comedic grand slam with this production. Her interpretation of the demanding script crafted the optimal pace to build the action into a tumultuous crescendo of hilarious madness. In the first act, this cast beautifully lays a solid foundation which the subsequent two acts construct in to a towering skyscraper of hilarity.
Here, the director of this show-within-a-show, “Lloyd Dallas,” flawlessly performed by Michael Frederico, desperately works to coach the cast through the script of “Nothing On” with just hours to spare before opening night. However, a series of misplaced props, missed lines, easily distracted actors and a malfunctioning set push “Lloyd Dallas” to the brink of insanity. Watching him slowly come apart at the seams while wrangling the unruly cast is riotously funny. His interaction with Kristin McCollum’s absent-minded English maid, “Dotty Otley,” the high-strung couple of Chris Sanders and Ashley Woods’ “Belinda Blair” and “Frederick Fellowes,” and the heavily intoxicated, cue-missing burglar “Selsdon Mowbray” played by Adrian Churchhill is exceptionally entertaining.
Those who pay close attention to the staging details and dialogue in act one receive a huge payout in the second act where we find the frazzled cast backstage about to open the big show. Here, the meek stage manager “Brooke Ashton,” played by Catherine D. DuBord and assisted by an exhausted stagehand, “Tim Allgood,” performed by Mac Welch, desperately tries to keep the train on tracks. Cast infighting, threats to walk off the show, malfunctioning sets, an inebriated actor and, of course, several plates of misplaced sardines are just a few of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles they must overcome.
In addition to brilliant acting and clockwork timing by the cast, the stage design courtesy of Jeffrey Schmidt, made this act, and the entire show for that matter, a resounding success. His exceptional use of the unique performance space of Theatre Three, which is typically a theatre-in-the-round venue, was spot-on.
I won't delve into the details of act three for fear of dropping some spoilers, but suffice it to say this is really where the cast really shines. Together, they seamlessly ebb and flow with the intricate coordination and precision of a military operation gone horribly wrong. The result is hysterical and the immense talent and physical ability required to pull this show off is mind-boggling. From Robin Clayton’s scantily-clad “Poppy Norton-Taylor” writhing on the floor in search of her missing contact lenses to Tadeo Martinez’s hilariously high-strung and passionate actor, “Garry LeJeune,” and all performances in between, this is truly a stand out production. Do yourself a favor and put your holiday plans on hold for a few hours to laugh non-stop alongside the cast of Theatre Three’s “Noises Off.”
“NOISES OFF”
Theatre Three’s production of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off,”is directed by Kara-Lynn Vaeni and runs through December 22nd, 2019. The show’s cast features Diego Martinez as “Garry Lejeune,” Kristin McCollum as “Dotty Otley,” Michael Federico as “Lloyd Dallas,” Chris Sanders in the role of “Belinda Blair,” Ashley Wood as “Frederick Fellowes,” Catherine DuBord as “Brooke Ashton”, Mac Welch playing “Tim Allgood,” Gordon Fox as “Selsdon Mowbray” and Robin Clayton in the role of “Poppy Norton-Taylor.” The show also includes costume design courtesy of Susan Yanofsky, lighting by Aaron Johansen and Lindsay Silva, sound from Mason York and scene design by Jeffrey Schmidt.
Reserve your ticket for “Noises Off” and get more information about upcoming Theatre Three shows by visiting www.Theatre3Dallas.com.
Photo credit: Jeffrey Schmidt