In 1970, when playwright Michael Frayn was watching a performance of the farce The Two of Us from the wings, he realized that the antics happening backstage were even funnier than the play itself. This observation served as the inspiration for his Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award–winning comedy, Noises Off.
Hailed as the funniest farce ever written, Noises Off treats audiences to a hilarious peek at a second-tier acting troupe performing a show. With egos, insecurities, and tempers flaring backstage—and forgotten lines, missed cues, and misplaced sardines onstage—this cast threatens to strike the old adage “the show must go on.”
At the heart of the story is Lloyd Dallas (Andrew McNee), disgruntled director of the play-within-a-play, Nothing’s On. The love triangle between Lloyd, assistant stage manager Poppy Norton-Taylor (Ming Hudson), and actress Brooke Ashton (Tess Degenstein) is merely the cherry on top of this deliciously drama-filled comedy. As time goes by, things escalate until pandemonium ensues and axe-wielding costars, whiskey-sodden cast members, and poorly kept secrets take centre stage. Can the cast pull their act together for the audience even if they can't behind the scenes?
On this programming choice, Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran said, “Michael Frayn takes the tried and true qualities of farce and then employs them, manipulates them, and celebrates them. And, in doing so, he creates a genius love letter to theatre. The piece requires a kind of comedic precision—creating verbal and physical patterns—that I know our director, Scott Bellis, will knock out of the park.”
January 23–February 23, 2020
SHOWTIMES
Tue–Thu at 7:30 PM, Fri and Sat at 8 PM, Wed at 1:30 PM, and Sat & Sun at 2 PM
Sunday Salon: Sun, Feb 2, 2 PM
Tuesday Talkback: Tue, Feb 11, 7:30 PM
Relaxed Performance: Mon, Feb 16, 7 PM
VocalEye Performances: Sun, Feb 16, 2 PM, and Fri, Feb 21, 8 PM
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Tickets from $29 at artsclub.com or the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644
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