Review: 'Noises Off' at Connecticut Repertory Theatre

The company of NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn, directed by Vincent J. Cardinal, onstage June 15-25 at Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Info at crt.uconn.edu or 860-486-2113. Photo by Matt Pugliese.
L to R: Rear: John Bixler, Michael Doherty, Gavin McNicholl, Seated: Steve Hayes, Arlene Bozich, Grace Allyn, Curtis Longfellow, Jayne Ng, Center: Jennifer Cody.

“Freddie, love, I'm telling you I don't know. I don't think the author knows. I don't know why the author came into this industry in the first place. I don't know why any of us came into it.” - Lloyd the director in ‘Noises Off’

Storrs, CT - ‘Noises Off’ is a play within a madcap farce written by Michael Frayn. The sharp production running at Connecticut Repertory Theatre on the campus of UConn Storrs was directed by Vincent J. Cardinal. Mr. Cardinal returns to the Nutmeg Summer Series after previously serving as CRT’s artistic director and the head of the department of dramatic arts at UConn; he currently teaches at the University of Michigan. Terrance Mann is the artistic director this season and served as fight choreographer for this production; Mathew J. Pugliese is the executive producer.

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The story of ‘Noises Off’ involves an ambitious director and his troupe of mediocre actors that are trying to put together a silly sex comedy called ‘Nothing On.’ The embedded show is a single set farce in which the lovers frolic, multiple doors slam, outer clothes are tossed away and lots of hi-jinks follow. The three acts of the comedy show us a dress rehearsal, backstage at a matinee performance and finally on stage during a ruined performance of the doomed production at the end of it’s run. A large chunk of the second act is done silently backstage as the performance proceeds on the other side of the set; anyone who has ever waited behind the scenes for an entrance will love it.

NOISES OFF

Onstage thru June 25, 2017

Tickets at http://www.crt.uconn.edu/ or 860-486-2113 by Michael Frayn

Directed by Vincent J. Cardinal

Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre