AUPAC offers “funniest farce ever” NOISES OFF

Playwright Michael Frayn’s NOISES OFF has been called “the funniest farce ever written.”  It’s a frantic story of a second-rate company of touring actors doing a barely rehearsed production of a typical British sex farce called Nothing On. Each of the three acts of NOISES OFF is focused on a first act of Nothing On presented in different periods of production—the first is at a dress rehearsal on the play's set, the second is backstage at a performance a few weeks later (with the entire set rotated 180 degrees to reveal the chaos of the action) and the third, with the set turned around again, at a manic performance twelve weeks after opening night.

As this motley group struggles to produce their show, the cast can barely hold itself together, the personal relationships of the actors begin to fray and finally explode, as both farces—the one you’re watching and the one they’re doing —collapse into a tangle of chaos that has to be seen to be comprehended.

Student performers and the tech crew for the Adelphi production had the unique opportunity to work with theater veteran, Edward Hibbert, in preparation for their show. Mr. Hibbert appeared in two very successful runs of NOISES OFF, most recently to critical acclaim as “Freddy” in the 2001 Broadway revival. He played “Freddy” for nine months in New York, jumping up and down with his pants around his ankles recalling the experience of playing an actor who was playing an actor as “aerobic.” His advice to the student actors was, “you are part of a great ensemble, you have to trust each other; play your part as if it was Shakespeare.”

The play is directed by Brian Rose, professor of theatre at Adelphi University, and runs from Tuesday, November 5 through Sunday, November 10. Shows are in the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Olmsted Theatre, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, New York. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. except for the Wednesday, November 6 show which begins at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a post-show discussion. There will be 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10 (the last performance.)

Adelphi University’s Performing Arts Center is Long Island’s premier cultural arts venue for entertainment of all kinds. Tickets for NOISES OFF are on sale now and are priced at $20.00 each with discounts available to seniors, alumni, and students. For more information about all the events at AUPAC and to purchase tickets, visit aupac.adelphi.edu. Information is also available at The Lucia and Steven N. Fischer Box Office at (516)877-4000 or boxoffice@adelphi.edu. Regular box office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. The box office is also open 2 hours before most scheduled performances.

About Adelphi University: Adelphi is a world class, modern university with excellent and highly relevant programs where students prepare for lives of active citizenship and professional careers. Through its schools and programs—The College of Arts and Sciences, Gordon F. Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Honors College, Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, University College, the College of Nursing and Public Health and the Schools of Business and Social Work—the co-educational university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as professional and educational programs for adults. Adelphi University currently enrolls nearly 8,000 students from 41 states and 60 foreign countries. With its main campus in Garden City and centers in Manhattan, Hauppauge, and Poughkeepsie, the University chartered in 1896, maintains a commitment to liberal studies in tandem with rigorous professional preparation and active citizenship.