BWW Reviews: Austin Playhouse Stages Riotous Comedy NOISES OFF

There is an old adage in the theater: "Dying is easy. Comedy is hard." Comedy is certainly harder when the material is Noises Off, the ridiculously funny farce by Michael Frayn which was named "One of the Funniest comedies ever written" by the New York Post. Still, if the cast and crew at the Austin Playhouse had any difficulty with the neo-classic comedy, it certainly doesn't show. Their polished production is uproariously funny with each moment better than the last.

The premise of Noises Off is incredibly simple. The show follows the British cast and crew of a new play, Nothing On, which might as well be called Murphy's Law. Anything that can go wrong does go wrong as we follow the company though their final dress rehearsal, a matinee in the middle of their run, and a disastrous final performance.

Though the idea is simple, the execution certainly is not. Frayn's script is incredibly quick and filled to the brim with fantastic one-liners and humorous exchanges. He also has a gift for creating detailed and unique moments of physical comedy, and his to show the matinee sequence from a behind-the-scenes point of view also adds to the fun and the complexity in storytelling.

Unlike the disastrous cast of the show-within-the-show, the cast of this Noises Off is an extraordinary team of the best comedic actors in Austin. David Stahl is fantastically dry and sardonic as the director, Lloyd. As the evening goes on and his play continues to self-destruct, Stahl allows his character to become more and more irate and sarcastic, much to the delight of the audience. As the leading lady, Dotty, Bernadette Nason is a pleasure to watch. She plays Dotty as an almost completely inept actress who stumbles through her blocking with a flabbergasted look on her face. Kimberly Barrow is infectiously cute as the vapid Brooke, and Hildreth England is perfect as the gossiping Belinda. While they may get less stage time than their counterparts, Jessica Hughes is fun to watch as the emotional stage manager, Poppy, and Zach Thompson brings a fun nervous energy to the crewhand, Tim.

While it's tough to say that anyone in this cast stands out above the rest as they're all so good, there are a trio of featured actors who get a few more laughs than the rest. Tom Parker is delightful as Selsdon, the company's lovable, deaf alcoholic. As Freddy, an actor who suffers from spontaneous nose bleeds and also faints at the sight of blood (see how disastrous that combination could be?), Huck Huckaby gets many moments of physical comedy, and he nails every one of them. But David Stokey as Garry may get slightly more laughs than anyone else. As the grossly ineloquent and severely jealous Garry, Stokey gives one of the most hilarious performances of the season.

Of course, this Noises Off succeeds for far more reasons than just the cast, terrific though they are. Director Don Toner proves to be a master of comedy with this over-the-top farce. The pacing is tight, and the laughs are non-stop, turning the show into a marathon of guffaws. Diana Huckaby's costumes are wonderful as is Don Day's lighting, but the truly remarkable design element is Patrick Crowley's revolving set. Despite the limitations of Austin Playhouse's space, Crowley has designed a fully realized two-story country home, complete with countless doors, nooks, and crannies, all of which are utilized time and time again. I also argue that it's a necessity to stay seated for at least one of the two intermissions to witness the set transform. Crowley is certainly one of the most gifted and clever set designers in the Austin area, and this set is one of his finest.

A triumphant success like Noises Off is almost as rare as a disaster like its show-within-the-show. This production is the perfect marriage of a witty script, talented cast, and gifted creative team and one of the best productions of this theater season.

Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes, including two 10 minute intermissions.

Poster designed by Trevor Lemoine.

Picture (Clockwise from Top Left): Kimberly Barrow, David Stahl, Jessica Hughes, and Hildreth England in Austin Playhouse's NOISES OFF. Photo by Christopher Loveless.

Note: Due to language and adult situations, NOISES OFF is recommended for adult audiences only.

NOISES OFF plays the Austin Playhouse in the Highland Mall at 6001 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752 now thru May 26^th. Performances are Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 5pm. Tickets are $28 on Thursdays and Fridays and $30 on Saturdays and Sundays.

For tickets and information, please visit www.austinplayhouse.com