Energetic cast in old favourite
After a slow start Noises Off at the Theatre Royal, Bath starring Liza Goddard and Matthew Kelly warmed up and got some great laughs from the audience in a very energetic theatrical comedy display.
Michael Frayn’s award-winning bedroom farce is a favourite among Bath theatre goers, it toured here only last September starring Felicity Kendall in the pivotal role of Dotty Otley.
This touring production by Theatre Royal Bath Productions with Birmingham Rep has some new additions and overall the first night audience loved it, there are some highly dramatic and energetic performances by a talented cast who gave their all on opening night.
Noises Off is famously a play-withina-play about a low rent amateur dramatic company gearing up for its first night performance of farcical play Nothing On at a small theatre in
Weston-super-mare – that got a great laugh from a Somerset audience.
What we see in the first act is the dress rehearsal, it is nearly midnight and the cast still do not know their lines, much to the frustration of director Lloyd, played beautifully by Bath local Simon Shepherd.
Poking fun at amateur dramatics is
a great idea for comedy, Frayn is one of the front runners but this Lindsay Posner revival gives the play a surge of energy for a modern audience.
There is a lot of sexy underwear, trouser dropping and the ubiquitous striped underpants, a must for every bedroom farce.
In the opening scene we are in the living room of a country house where housekeeper Dotty (Liza Goddard) is looking after things for tax exiles Frederick (Simon Coates) and Belinda (Lucy Robinson).
The comedy is over worked in this first act with not much pace and really Frayn’s brilliance is not evident until the second part.
It is the amazing set design by Simon Higlett which really is the star of this show.
In the second part the set is reversed and we are behind the scenes where we hear about the off-stage antics and love affairs between the cast members in their real lives.
Dan Fredenburgh as on and off stage love cad Larry gives an unbelievably energetic performance, exhausting at times. We see him falling down stairs, walking into doors, falling over boxes and his slow build of frustration is hilarious throughout.
Nothing is what it seems and the audience bears witness to a hilarious unravelling of events off stage.
Liza Goddard is a Bath favourite as is Matthew Kelly who plays the strange character of Selsdon Mowbray. Kelly fits the role well but you do wonder what Frayn’s intention was with this whisky swilling old codger.
He is obviously there to provide slapstick comedy as the burglar in the show, and there are some funny moments but you do wonder about the necessity of it all.
Overall it is a very funny play in parts, performed by a talented and hugely energetic cast who really do work very hard.
At times the show is complete chaos and the pace speeds up as the night goes on.
By the end the audience at the Theatre Royal were laughing out loud – they loved it and gave a very enthusiastic appreciation to this hard working cast at curtain call.
Theatre Royal regulars will love this comedy which continues at the Theatre Royal, Bath until Saturday, September 23.
For tickets visit ww.theatreroyal.org. uk or ring 01225448844.