Theatre Review: "Noises Off" by WCSU Theatre Department

DANBURY - The students in the Western Connecticut State University Department of Theatre Arts worked very hard to present a fast-paced production of “Noises Off” on their stage at the VPAC on the Westside campus of the university. The well-known farce was written by Michael Frayn and the students were skillfully directed by Pam McDaniel, the chair of WCSU Theatre Department. She was assisted in this production by Michele McDonald.

Unfortunately, the result of all of the hard work was only presented for five performances this weekend, with the understudy cast performing on Sunday evening at 7 p.m.The cast I saw on Saturday evening performs today at the 2 p.m. matinee.

This is a very challenging work to produce and the students rose to every challenge. Dramaturg Haley Napier correctly notes that it is one the most commonly performed farces in the Western world. I can remember seeing four versions previously.

Because this is a play within a play, Napier writes that we get “two farces for the price of one.” The three acts are full of smart jokes and breakneck entertaining antics backstage. It is set in English so there are British accents to decipher.

WCSU senior Colleen Callahan from Easton (above,) opens the show as the middle-aged television star and investor in the play Dotty Otley. Callahan, who played Hippolyta in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the university,” is the co-president of WCSU Centerstage. Senior Sydney Campbell from Dudley Massachusetts, is the sensible Belinda Blair.

Freshman Jacob Erdody tries to keep things under control as the overworked stage manager Tim Allgood and Junior Michael Moriarty from New York is the dimwitted actor Frederick Fellowes. Senior Tom O’Leary (“The COVID Demarcation”) is the sarcastic director of the play-within-a-play “Nothing On” Lloyd Dallas, beginning his performance from a seat in the balcony. Senior Ryan Charles Henry plays the elderly actor Selsdon, who suffers from a drinking problem.

Senior Ashley Raymond, whose hometown is Ridgefield, is the clueless young inexperienced actress Brooke Aston. Senior Will Stewich (“Hand to God”) is the play’s leading man Garry Lejeune and Tina Vlamis is delightful as skittish assistant stage manager Poppy Norton-Taylor.

The hard-working understudies include senior Julia Bussell as Dotty, Teah Renzi of Newton as the sensible peacemaker Belinda, Lorenzo Leite as Selsdon, Donovan Shaw of Bristol as Tim, Ben Muckenthaler as Frederick, Khalil Mumtaz of Meriden as Lloyd, Abby Cunningham of Deep River as Brooke, Liam McGrath of New Fairfield as Garry and Becca Ferrante from Norwalk as Poppy.

The large set designed by Elizabeth Popiel was constructed to rotate for the second act is quite impressive and worked perfectly. Lighting designed by Scott Cally was efficiently executed and Tom Swetz serves as technical director. Costumes by Joni Johns Lerner fit the bill nicely, with wigs by Mary Donovan.

Congratulations to the cast and crew for successfully launching this play and bringing lots of comedy to their stage. Remaining performances are Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the VPAC.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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