THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290354
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
TYPE: Theater Review
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: AHOSKIE LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines
After the first few moments you know that the Gallery Theater presentation is not funny. It goes far beyond that. It is pure hilarity from curtain raiser to curtain closer.
They could offer a money-back-if-not-satisfied guarantee with ``Noises Off'' and not lose a penny.
Just ask the opening-night theatergoers, who went from laughing every moment or so, to a couple of standing ovations - mid-play, yet - to foot-stomping and cheering.
It is all quite justified.
Just reading Michael Frayn's script will have you roaring, but in Ahoskie the big pluses are the production - the outstanding set, the razor-sharp direction, and performers whose energy and excellent sense of timing make everything work so well.
Several years ago, Carol Burnett made a movie version of ``Noises Off'' which, to put it politely, smelled to high heaven. It had to be an embarrassment to the playwright.
The so-called professionals in the flick couldn't hold a candle to the Gallery's gals and guys.
What is it all about? It concerns a theater group putting on a play titled ``Noises On.''
Act one shows them in rehearsal a few hours prior to opening night. It looks like the play is going to be a disaster. Act one, Part two is very clever. The audience faces backstage while the actors go on the set that faces the back of the Gallery, and do the play. Read that twice and you'll understand.
What the audience sees, backstage, is mayhem. Actor's egos and eccentricities are accentuated. Act one, Part Three shows the set again. The play is on and Murphy's Law goes to work in spades.
There is nothing quiet about the ``Noises On'' goings-on. It is not a case of a group of folks just talking and moving around a little.
``Noises Off'' is very physical. Doors open and shut, things disappear, people trip, there are kicks-in-the-pants, shoelaces tied together, sardines are lost and reappear, etc., etc.
Attire of the day is slips for some of the women, undershorts only for some of the men - straight out of burlesque and showing a lot less flesh than you will see at the beach.
Because there is so much action, and it is so wild, children will enjoy the play.
Everyone will enjoy the excellent performances. It is not only difficult, but quite unfair, to point to any one performer, so let's do it this way:
Multitudinous kudos to Irma Bond and her m'rvelous Cockney accent, and Ernie Carter who divides his Gallery time between acting and directing - this time acting as the harried ``Noises On'' director. Outstanding.
Tom Kiff, also outstanding, particularly in his states of confusion. Betsy Umphlett, Melanie Edwards, Amy Joyner, Steve Woodson - outstanding, outstanding, outstanding, outstanding.
Henry Joyner and daughter, Amy - the same.
Finally, a lot of credit to Darin Mize. He has never before directed anything, gets underway with a production that is difficult to helm and winds up smelling like roses. He also gets credit for the excellent set design.
Don't miss ``Noises Off,'' even if you have to get out of your sickbed. If laughter is a great healer, you may not have to return to that bed. MEMO: PLAY REVIEW
What: ``Noises Off'' presented by The Gallery Theater.
Where: Gallery Theater, West Main St., Ahoskie.
When: 8 tonight and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS, Staff
Ernie Carter, left, and the father-daughter team of Henry and Amy
Joyner are among the many stars of ``Noises Off.'' Don't miss
``Noises Off,'' even if you have to get out of your sickbed.
by CNB