YLT Presents NOISES OFF April 29

Noises Off, opening at YLT on April 29, presents the story of a hapless English acting troupe touring a production of a dreadful British adult comedy called Nothing On. Called "the funniest farce ever written," by the New York Post, and written by Tony-winner Michael Frayn, Noises Off is a play-within-a-play in which other people's misfortunes prove priceless comic fodder.

Noises Off is a riotous experience of slamming doors, breaking windows, tripping up and falling down stairs, false entrances, endless flubbed lines, miscues, high drama, double entendres, young girls running around in their underwear, old men dropping their trousers, and a million laughs all while trying to find a missing plate of sardines. New York Magazine says it is "as side-splitting a farce as I have seen," and The Wall Street Journal called it, "Ingenious....Madcap."

The show is performed in three acts. Each of the three acts of Noises Off contains a performance of the first act of Nothing On. Act One is the dress rehearsal, the night before opening, with the cast still fumbling with entrances and exits, missed cues, misspoken lines, and bothersome props, most notably several plates of sardines. The entire set turns around for Act Two, when we see opening night, Act One of Nothing On, entirely from back stage. In Act Three the set turns around again and we see the performance in shambles from the audience's perspective--personal dramas have superseded those of the characters and real life has become more of a farce than any playwright could conceive. Nothing On is awful but Noises Off is wonderful as it approaches perfect nonsense.
"This is the hardest show ever," says Director Joe Durika. "If it's done right, it looks easy but it's very hard to put together." Durika says one of the trickiest things is timing. "There are a lot of doors," he explains, "and the door slams, entrances and exits all have to be timed perfectly while making it all appear to be spontaneous." The other great challenge for the cast is Act Two. "It's the fastest, most difficult 45 minutes of theatre I have ever seen," explains Durika. "Everything is physical-there are very few lines."

The local cast of 9 includes Chris Ausherman as Dotty, the fading leading lady who plays the hospitable, but slow housekeeper, Mrs. Clackett ; Darren Wagner as Garry, the jealous leading man who can't complete a sentence, as the randy real estate agent, Roger; Catherine Howard as Brooke, the nearly-blind bombshell who plays temptress Vicky; Matt McDonnell as Freddy, the clueless actor playing clueless, tax-evader, Phillip; Diana Oswalt as Belinda, the always-happy cast gossip who plays Phillip's dependable, sweet, wife, Flavia; Jeff Sneeringer as Selsdon, the aged boozer who plays the aged Burglar; Lee Howard as Lloyd Dallas, the smart, frustrated, passive-aggressive, condescending director; Mary McCleary as Poppy, the stage manager who tries desperately to hold everything together; and Calvin Emery as Tim, the sleep-deprived company manager. "This is the most phenomenal cast that I have ever worked with," says Durika. "There is a lot of talent here and they are all willing to work really hard."

Bob McCleary, YLT Technical Director and Set Designer for the production had to create a massive two-story set that can spin around. "The set is 16' 8" high with three sets of stairs," explains Bob. "And the whole thing rolls on casters so we can turn it so the audience is backstage for Act Two."

"I'm not sure how anyone could catch everything watching it once," says Durika. "This is fast-paced, Marx Brothers style, very funny slapstick at its best." Performances are on April 29, 30, May 5, 6 and 7 at 7:30; May 1 and 8 at 3:00. Tickets are $10 -22 and group discounts are offered. More information and tickets are available by calling the box office at 717-854-5715, 11 - 5, Monday through Friday, or visiting www.ylt.org. Noises Off is sponsored by Mike Ausherman Painting, Media Sponsor, Flipside.

York Little Theatre, now enjoying its 78th season of shows, is a nonprofit community theatre which values and nurtures the irreplaceable role of the arts and is dedicated to engaging and enriching its entire, diverse community in the dramatic arts through a broad range of professionally directed, entertaining, stimulating, and sometimes provocative performances. York Little Theatre is located at 27 South Belmont Street, York PA, just south of Market Street at the intersection of I83.

 

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