Review
NOISES OFF
Production company Morpheus Theatre
Starring: Diane Leblanc and Jay Newman
Directed by: Sean Anderson
Runs until November 6
Pumphouse Theatres
Sean Anderson, the artistic director of Morpheus Theatre, recently declared "I am Morpheus." In the theatre world these words serve the same purpose as General Douglas MacArthur's "I shall return" – an acceptance of full responsibility for every success and failure of the company. And there couldn't have been a braver time for Anderson to utter these words than during his direction of Michael Frayn's Noises Off.
Noises Off is one of the most complex comedies ever conceived. Most of the actors play two roles – a character in the play-within-the-play, called Nothing On, and an actor or technician behind the scenes. There are numerous costume changes, an endless number of props, constant exits and entrances, and enough pratfalls to put Dick Van Dyke out of commission.
But the biggest obstacle to overcome in Frayn's whirling dervish of a comedy is the set. It requires seven doors, a window, an upstairs hallway, a staircase and a balcony – and that's just for the first and third acts. The second act requires the flipside – the backstage manifestation of the onstage country house. Usually this is done by rotating the set on a turntable or shifting it piece by piece during intermission, but neither of these options is feasible at Pumphouse Theatres. Anderson's answer is ingenious – move the audience.
This solution allowed Anderson to design and build an incredible set – a set that overcomes all of Frayn's logistical barriers and gives the actors a thrilling world in which to play. The problem is that Anderson spent so much time making the set look great, it seems he didn't guide his actors to their full potential. He certainly assembled a talented cast, but the sheer enormity of the set overwhelms the actors.
Noises Off was a brave choice for Mr. Morpheus to make, and he should be proud of the attempt. It is, however, a noble failure. Perhaps by the end of the play’s run everything will come together and the actors will find their characters – but, if they don't, it is through no fault of their own. |
