Noises Off | Theatr Clwyd

Local theatre company, Suitcase Theatre Company, brings Michael Frayn's farce Noises Off to the stage for a three night limited run. The show follows the chaos of a theatre company putting on a staged play called Nothing On, where forgotten lines and mishaps both onstage and off-stage lead to increasingly funny situations.

The clever structure of the play allows the chaos to unfold naturally; whilst act one focuses on the final late night technical rehearsal, the second act follows the backstage drama during a performance and the third act shows the production falling apart towards the end of its tour. This provides plenty of opportunity for physical comedy, slapstick humour and escalating chaos; with ample opportunities for Frayn's comedic moments to recur throughout.

John Owen's direction must be commended; the energy throughout is non-stop as actors enter and exit through several doors or different sides of the stage and this is executed seamlessly. The action is jam packed and it all flows easily and the performers must be praised for their ability to keep up the momentum at each performance. Owen's direction ensures that we get a well-rounded picture of each of the characters and their personality types. However, if there's one slight criticism to be made, during the second act in particular as we witness the chaos unfold backstage, it almost feels like there's slightly too much going on and the physical comedy becomes slightly nonsense. And whilst this would be expected for a farce, it goes beyond the slapstick nature and feels quite messy and unnatural.

Owen, who also serves as the set designer, creates a set which is utilised extremely well. The multi-purpose set allows us to see the stage from both the front and the back and the stage management team must be commended for their ability to adapt the stage in the quick interval breaks.

The cast do a tremendous job; however, there are a few standouts that deserve a mention. Si Kneale steals the show with perfectly timed comedic one-liners as the pompous director, whilst Tom Cutler shows good contrast between a bumbling and unsure person to a steadfast and committed performer, and Kevin Taws is a pure delight as the always late and hard of hearing Selsdon Mowbray, almost stealing each scene when he appears too late and has completely forgotten his line.

Overall, Suitcase Theatre Company's Noises Off is an entertaining and well-written comedy that celebrates the unpredictability of live theatre. It is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys witty dialogue, slapstick humour, and cleverly constructed plays.

Noises Off plays at Theatr Clwyd until Saturday 11th July - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review