Director Michael Hays was blessed with The Set Master Leroy Cupp designing this demanding, turn-around set, with its two levels and many, slam-able doors — aided by all the Scene Shop Pros, Tom Ferris, Leon Green, Bob Nees, and many others. He also employed, to great effect, the talents of “Stunt and Scuffle Choreographer” Connor Kelly. The set took a good deal of abuse from the stunts and scuffles, and lived to spin again.
The entire cast was hilarious, inhabiting the motley characters in this show about a show - and its accompanying backstage disasters and personal dramas. Of particular note was Nita Haberlein as Dotty Ottley/Mrs. Claggett who made her stage debut with this show in this very demanding and funny role! Kudos to her… and hope she’ll dare to come back; it will only get easier!
Newcomers to RWT, if not to the stage, were David Bilbey as Gary Lajeune/Roger Tramplemaine delivering his wonderful never-quite-getting-to-the-point dialogue with an inarticulate finesse — and Maureen Sawdon who displayed the most presence of mind in a state of stage-disaster as Belinda Blair/Flavia Brent — and Gabe Weeks was charmingly awkward as the sleep-deprived tech guy Tim Allgood, reluctant understudy to the burglar.
Cassie Little was the perfect “bad-actor” bimbo, artfully oblivious in her scanties. Greg Pratt exploited his whistling s’s and adorable insecurity into Frederick Fellowes/Phillip Brent. John Liskey portrayed the lovable drunk Selsdon Bowbray/Burgler. Erin Hoffman injected some seething sass into her all-purpose Stage Manager, Poppy. Director Lloyd Dallas, played by the masterful Dave Dunckel, lost his grip on “leadership” of this motley crew early on, swept up and tripped up in his romantic exploits.
NOISES OFF is one of those Must-See shows for real Theatre People — so reMEMber. TOMORROW (Friday) IS THE GLUT PRESHOW POTLUCK RECEPTION at 7pm. Mike says the center section is almost full - so be sure to PHONE FOR A RESERVATION - (517-482-5700) and bring your finger-food to share (or juice or pop to add to the “mystery punch”) and I will SEE YOU THERE tomorrow. There is no need to RSVP for the reception; but it IS a good idea to have a reserved seat for the show.
Noises Off is not short (with two intermissions for set-turning) but you hardly notice because the pace is so fast. It runs through December 9.
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