By Sandi Masori
SAN DIEGO— Hil-larious! That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Noises Off now playing at The Old Globe. It should be no surprise, of course, being that the play is a farce. If you arrived and weren’t sure what to expect, a look in the program where you’re advised that there is an intermission between Act 1 and Act 1, but not between Act 1 and Act 1. Confusing? It’s because while there are three acts in the play, in the play within the play, it’s all the same act. Still not making sense? I guess I better explain…
We join the cast as they doing their tech rehearsal for the play within the play with the director Lloyd (James Waterston) coming up and down the aisles as he calls out directions to the cast. Dotty (Linda Mugleston) needs help remembering the stage directions and what she’s supposed to do with the plate of sardines she’s holding, Selsdon (Orville Mendoza) misses his cues, and Brooke (Michelle Veintimilla) keeps losing her contact lens, causing everyone to have to drop to the ground (comedically) to look for it.
In the meantime, some of the actors are hooking up, as will happen on a set. It’s chaos and pandemonium. It’s campy and funny and over-the-top. Eventually all gets figured out, more or less, and the cast is ready for opening night.
But then, the stage turns around and we’re taken “backstage.” This next scene is one of the funniest I have seen in a really long time- both because it was incredibly well done, and because it wasn’t far off from what happens backstage. The entire scene is done mostly in silence as the actors “on stage” say their lines. You have the actors dealing with personal issues, silent arguments, wardrobe malfunctions and missing props, all while they try to keep clear of the sight lines, comedically crawling and ducking under the open window of the set, which opens to the “backstage.”
And of course, while all this chaos is happening, Brooke loses her contact lens yet again. Words really can’t do justice to this masterpiece of physical comedy and choreography that director Gordon Greenberg put together. There is nothing I can say to fully convey how funny it is, except to tell you that if you wear pee panties you might want to bust them out for this performance.
Scenic Designer Todd Rosenthal put together a gorgeous set- the main set of the “front of the stage” is the interior of an English country home, and it’s beautiful. The “backstage” shows how the magic is made- with the wooden scaffolding, janky ladders, and crowded spaces that are actually what you’re likely to see behind such sets.
The entire ensemble works well together to pull it off, and shout outs go to everyone. Rounding out the cast we also have Matthew Patrick Davis, Abby Leigh Huffstetler, Nehal Joshi, Bryonha Marie, and Jefferson Mays. All of the actors are members of the Actor’s Equity Association.
Performances run through August 10.
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Associate Editor Sandi Masori is a theater and food reviewer for San Diego Jewish World