Cappies Review: Tuscarora’s Production of ‘Noises Off’

Review by Rebecca Frank, TC Williams (Nov. 23 show)

Have you ever wondered what it is like behind the scenes of a show?  In Tuscarora High School’s entertaining production of Noises Off, all of the backstage drama and shenanigans were revealed!

Written in 1982 by the English playwright Michael Frayn, this farcical comedy tells the story of a group of actors desperately trying to put on a show, despite the occurrence of problem after problem.  Actors forget their props, the set does not work properly, and multiple love triangles within the cast complicate everything in a way that had the audience roaring with laughter.  The entire cast had great chemistry with one another and their commitment to the almost ridiculous nature of the script ensured that the show was quite enjoyable.

Numerous actors carried the show.  A standout was Stephen Coakley (Garry), whose physical humor was well played and made his character a delight to watch.  His distinction between the stuttering nervous actor Roger and the poised and proper character Garry demonstrated enjoyable versatility.  Another standout was Darcy Pierce, playing the protective and devoted Belinda.  She showed complete dedication to her character throughout the play, and her energy never faltered.  She transitioned well from the calm and motherly character at the show’s beginning to the humorous and fed up actor by the end of the show.

Other notable actors were Ryan Phillips and Ben Fuhrmann.  Ryan Phillips played the comedic role of Selsdon, the old and forgetful actor, with great poise, and was able to convincingly portray his age through his attention to details in the way Selsdon walked, spoke and acted.  Ben Fuhrmann (Tim) played the awkward stagehand quite well, and got many laughs through his awkward physicality and nice delivery of his many funny lines.

The set for the show was quite detailed and eye pleasing, effectively transitioning from the old British set house to the hectic and more modern looking backstage.  The props were also well done, adding to the show’s humor, such as when Darcy Pierce’s character, Belinda, attempts to continue her scene with a mop as her fellow actor.  Though there were some microphone problems, the actors adjusted well, often projecting  when malfunctions arose.

The show overall was quite well done, utilizing the whole stage and even making use of the entire auditorium. Clever blocking effectively got the most humor out of the script.  Throughout the production, the stagehands coming on stage to periodically fix the set was fine touch, and it was clear that each individual “techie” had a distinct and amusing personality that made them fun to watch.  The attention to detail in every scene was also quite impressive.  Though there were some times when actors were hard to understand, the noteworthy physical humor displayed throughout the show ensured that the energy was never lost.

In Tuscarora’s production of 'Noises Off', the small but lively cast worked very well together and every actor on stage showed great commitment to his or her role.  With its laugh out loud humor and physical comedy, Tuscarora made sure that everyone in the audience had a good time.