'Noises Off' full of comic mirth
By Sally Carpenter sallyc@theacorn.com

CAUGHT IN THE ACT—Cast members of "Noises Off" are tickling funny bones at the Camarillo Community Theatre, 330 Skyway Drive, through Sept. 21. For tickets, call (805) 388-5716.

Actors in live theater agree that rehearsal goofs and backstage hijinks are often more entertaining than the play seen by the audience. Playwright Michael Frayn pushes this notion to its most outrageous extreme in "Noises Off," running at Camarillo Community Theatre. The noise you'll hear offstage during this uproarious farce is laughter from the audience.

The play was made into a 1992 film, but seeing "Noises" live on stage is better, as the pratfalls play out in real time without editing or retakes. The movie's attempt to Americanize the setting, moving some of the action outdoors and tacking on a "happy" ending weakens the play's punch.

"Noises," a play within a play, follows the tribulations of a British theater company mounting a touring production of a silly sex comedy, "Nothing On!" In Act I the cast struggles through dress rehearsal with forgotten lines, misplaced props, missed cues, a lost contact lens and a frustrated director, Lloyd Dallas (Ronald Rezac).

"Nothing" is set in a country cottage with seven doors plus a window that allow for plenty of simultaneous entrances and exits, as well as a staircase to run up and down in frantic haste.

The comedy heats up for Act 2 after the real stage crew has turned the set completely around during intermission. Now we see the drama going on backstage during a matinee production of "Nothing." Certain cast members are in love with or angry at other cast members, and they attempt to console or injure each other as the performance plods along. And everyone is anxious to keep the resident lush away from a whisky bottle.

Since nobody can speak backstage while the show is running, the actors resort to ludicrous pantomime to express their feelings.

In Act 3 the set is turned back to normal for a performance near the end of "Nothing's" run. By now the characters are tired, bored, sloppy and acting out their personal vendettas on stage. Everything that can go wrong does so, and the actors grow more confused as they struggle to keep some coherency in their rapidly disintegrating play.

The plot of "Nothing" doesn't matter (it doesn't even make much sense). Two sets of couples show up at a cottage with plans to make whoopee, each couple thinking no one else is around. A burglar breaks in, whom everyone assumes is from the tax department, and an old housekeeper only wants to relax and enjoy a nice plate of sardines during the turmoil.

We have the familiar farce stereotypes: Dotty Otley (Vivien Latham), the middleaged character actress; Brooke Ashton (Laura Weintraub), the dumb blonde sexpot who scampers about in her undies; Gary Lejeune (Jeff Frohwein), a leading man who speaks like, well, gosh, you know; Frederick Fellowes (James Ward), the handsome actor who's confused over the simplest stage direction; Belinda Blair (Courtney Johnson), the levelheaded actress; Poppy NortonTaylor (Kimberly Peters), the ever-efficient stage manager; Tim Allgood (Patrick Beckstead), the tech guy badly in need of sleep; and Selsdon Mowbray (Howard Leader), the theater veteran who can recall war stories from years ago but can't remember his lines.

Director Dean Johnson guides the crackerjack cast into wonderfully choreographed slapstick. The actors create hilarious characters and they don't miss a beat with their splitsecond timing. They skillfully handle the numerous props, a source of many jokes.

Bob Decker is the set designer and Andy Puhek participated in set design and construction. Bravo for the technical work in moving the set.

The costumes (or lack thereof in some cases) are the fine product of Lorna Bowen and Erin Heulitt.

The two intermissions are long to allow for the set changes, and this dampens the play's momentum just a tad. But once a scene begins, the energy shoots up and the actors are right on track.

When watching the show, keep the aisles clear, because members of the audience will be rolling in them.

Running time is a funny two hours, 40 minutes.

The play continues weekends through Sept. 21 at 330 Skyway Drive, Camarillo. For tickets, call (805) 388-5716 or visit www.camarillotheatre.org.