Who knew that sardines could play such a prominent part in a theatre production? Well, they do (along with several other unusual props) in this classic comedy play by Michael Frayn! ‘Noises Off’ was originally written in 1982, conceived 12 years earlier and it has stood the test of time. It is quintessentially British humour at its finest, a farce of the highest quality!! This production is directed by Douglas Rintoul and assisted by Charlie Flynn. Costumes and set design are by Clio Van Aerde.
”Noises Off’ is a play within a play.
A struggling touring theatre company is rehearsing a play, ‘Nothing On’. The scene being rehearsed takes place in a house in which the housekeeper is taking a break trying to eat her sardines, an estate agent is trying to show a potential house buyer (an attractive young woman) round the house, the owners of the house are returning from abroad and worrying about tax evasion, finally a burglar trying to steal goods from said house! The scene does not run smoothly, the actors forget their lines, where they should be and props are misplaced! A frustrated director regularly interrupts the flow of action to try and improve the situation but to no avail.
We see the same scene repeated several times, and therein lies the humour. As the characters develop we are drawn into wondering what is real and what is acting? Are they on script or ad-libbing? There is split second timing of the sharp, witty dialogue and careful choreography of movement around the stage set. Added to the mix is a heady cocktail of relationship strains – the estate agent is dating the housekeeper, the director is in a love triangle with the stage manager and the potential buyer of the house, all creating more confusion and disorder. We see the play from different angles as it gradually descends into chaos during the tour of provincial towns.
Superb acting and an ingenious script
All the actors in the play are superb and use the ingenious script to great effect particularly, George Kemp who plays Gary the estate agent who fails to remember his lines and is unable to finish his sentences with brilliant comedic timing. Towards the end of the show there is also a slap stick element to his performance which is hilarious. Claire Louise English who plays Belinda is endlessly trying to keep the show going and must be commended for her miming skills which increase as the play progresses. Ailsa Joy who plays Brooke, the potential house buyer, overacts her part magnificently, even when trying to find her contact lenses!! The energy created by all the cast is infectious, a joy to behold.
There is no resolution to this story; we are left with many questions. Does the estate agent get together with the buyer? Does the tax man catch up with the owners? Does the housekeeper finally get to eat her sardines? That doesn’t really matter, what the ‘play with a play’ does highlight, with hilarious effect, are the traumas that could occur when actors go on tour. So, next time you visit the theatre, think about the toil and stress that may have gone on behind the scenes!! ‘Nothing On’ is a disaster, a chaotic failure but as such ‘Noises Off’ is a triumphant success!!
Noises Off is playing at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick from Wednesday June 25 to Saturday July 26 2025. For further information go to www.theatrebythelake.com
