“Noises Off” Review

By: Meliha Gutic

Asst. A&E Editor

Sacred Heart University’s Theatre Arts Program premiered “Noises Off” at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts on Nov. 17, 18, and 19.

The show is a comedy based on the play written by Michael Frayn. The show is a play within a play and the actors are performing in a show called “Nothing On.”

At first, this didn’t really catch on but as soon as Lloyd Dallas, played by Patrick Robinson, came onto the stage, you could tell that he was acting as a director and it clicked.

I will truthfully say that I have never attended Theatre program here at SHU, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

During the first ten minutes of the show, the acting was done so well, that the line was blurred as to when they were performing in “Nothing On” and when they were performing in “Noises Off,” the actual show.

I’m not an avid play watcher, but what I can say is that the acting in this show is phenomenal.

The first character we see is Dotty/Mrs. Clackett, played by Rose McKenna. She plays the housekeeper and she is charming and witty, yet relatable. She had people in the audience howling and she absolutely nailed the character.

After that, we see Garry/Roger played by Zachary Lane, and Brooke/Vicki played by The Spectrum’s very own Arts & Entertainment Editor, Jordan Norkus.   

Brooke is an inexperienced actress who comes off as a dumb blonde and her one-liners were hilarious.

Garry on the other hand is a very frazzled and jealous man and is in a relationship with Dotty. The acting for this character was incredible because it was very fast-paced and Lane nailed it.

Katherine Horne plays Belinda/Flavia and I think the character Belinda reminded me a lot of myself because she was the one that was constantly trying to make everyone happy so that the show could go on. Andrew Patino plays Frederick/Phillip and I think the role fit him perfectly.

The show is a comedy and it definitely delivered. I didn’t want to laugh too hard! I was trying to take everything in at once, because I didn’t want to miss anything.

One of my favorite things about the show was that it was set in three acts, which is unusual since most plays are set in two.

In the first act, we see the stage. In the second act we see the back of the stage, and in the third, we see the front of the stage again. What I loved was that it gave the audience different perspectives on what happens during a show.

The first act was a basic rehearsal of the play “Nothing On” and then in the second and third act, it was a view of the actual show and how everything went terribly.

The second act was my favorite, because it almost felt like I was intruding on something that I am not a part of. I feel like backstage is an actor’s own world, something the audience will never see and here we are, seeing something that seems very personal. I would imagine that the backstage during a show is just as chaotic with a little less drama. Maybe?

I also have to give credit to everyone who worked behind the scenes such as the director, production manager, and everyone else involved. The production put into the show was amazing and it enhanced the show that much more.

Overall, the play was a stunning display of Sacred Heart’s Theatre Arts Program, and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store in the Spring.

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