Word: stage
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Frayn begins Noise Off brilliantly--for several minutes Heather Gunn, who plays the actress Dotty Otley, who plays housekeeper Mrs. Clackett in Nothing On, occupies the stage, nonsensically mumbling about sardines and trying to answer a telephone at the same time. It is only minutes later, with the entrance of the director of Nothing On, that the audience understands that Noise Off is about the rehearsal of another play...
...philosophical burglar, a relaxation-technique enthusiast, an Arab sheik and plates of sardines all contribute to the side-splitting humor of the Loeb Mainstage's play within a play, Noises Off. Written by Michael Frayn, Noises Off is really about a second-rate theater company's attempt to stage second-rate playwright Robin House-monger's Nothing On. This HRDC production employs skillful direction and great comic talent to focus on the onstage and backstage sexual politics of a group of British has-been actors...
Early in the play, Dallas gets into a tiff with Garry Lejune (Donivan Barton), who plays Nothing On's furtive Roger Tramplemain; they disagree about why Tramplemain must complete a certain stage direction. Barton is amusing with his inarticulate show of righteous anger, but most of the laughs come from Zelman's deadpan delivery. Dallas' reaction to Tramplemain's tantrum exemplifies his feeling toward his cast: "I'm starting to know what God felt like, sitting outside in the darkness, creating the world: He was very happy that He'd taken His valium...
...good metaphor for The Night Thoreau Spent In Jail is the scenery used: sparse and effective, but a little empty. The play takes place on a stage bare except for the two beds in the prison cell, which sometimes turn into benches, and a chair or two, which are sometimes used as a boat. And these are sufficient...
THOREAU is quite funny in parts and is very well acted, especially by Frost, who dominates stage time and dialogue. Especially well done are the scenes of Thoreau as a teacher, getting his students to learn and teaching Bailey (Jason Solomon) how to write his name...