Noises Off

Noises Off opens with the final dress rehearsal of Nothing On, a farce of confusions as two couples, unaware of each others’ presence secretly visit a large house in search of romance and tax evasion. With the added mayhem of a scatty housekeeper and a sentimental burglar, chaos ensues as boxes, clothes and sardines keep vanishing and reappearing to the utter bewilderment of the characters.
As the characters fumble through lines, props and exits, director Lloyd Dallas, played by David Elms, interrupts and it quickly becomes clear that this is a farce within a farce. The actors are intertwined with relationships, affairs and drinking problems, all of which affect the play they are cobbling together for their UK tour.
With each act comes a different stage of the tour – the second is mid-tour and the third is in its final week. Unable to put their personal relationship problems behind them for the sake of the play, Nothing On progressively descends into total anarchy as the actors struggle to hold together any semblance of the original play, with missing props, personal vendettas and multiple burglars awkwardly reciting the same lines in unison.
Michael Frayn’s Olivier award-winning play is technically complex but with a simple, universal comedy, which Pocketful Productions have brought to life with an incredible spark and energy. Dave Larking’s set is masterful, complete with eight doors, a staircase and a working window.
The acting is fantastic, with some really great talent on show from members of renowned improvised comedy group The Improverts, as well as Funny Women 2010 award winner, Liz Black. Nicholas Masters-Waage is hilarious as Garry Lejeune, with the faux poshness and aggressive short-temper of Basil Fawlty, while Kate Lister, who plays Brooke Ashton, makes a convincing ditz who bravely spends most of the play running around in her lingerie.
Full of uncontrollably laugh-out-loud moments, this is a first-rate production that makes a great night out.