NOISES OFF

For anyone who knows Michael Frayn’s masterful study of farce and human nature, the decision from a small, but much praised, fringe company to take it on seems as crazy as the play itself. And to do at an open air venue like Brighton’s brilliant open air theatre seems doubly insane. But here we have it, the excellent cue Fanfare have, following an equally ambitious Ben Hur early in the season, pulled it off once again. This adds to a track record of great productions at BOAT that make them one of the must see companies of the season.

The play is a logistically complex challenge that requires a set that between acts reverses, and it is a set that is a set facing the audience and then seen from back stage. It requires multiple doors through which the cast enter and exit with alarming speed and precision timing, or at least they should… The play within the play is Nothing On, a delightful take on those classic Whitehall Farces that inevitably saw Brian Rix in spotted boxer shorts with his trousers around his ankles. Muddled chaos is the game and into this Frayn injects secrets, lies, hidden love interest, booze, fragile personalities an in fact an almost endless list of flawed human beings.

I hope that is enough of the plot to make you book to see this, to tell any more would certainly spoil the experience.

Anna Brecon

So on to the cast. Anna Brecon is Dotty Otley who in turn is Mrs Clacket, Dotty is a ‘seasoned old pro’ hoping that her investment in the production might buffer her pension in retire ment. Brecon balances her delivery old old lovie and old char so well. Harry Hart once again produces a perfomance that marks him as a natural comedian with immaculate timing. His Garry Lejeune is a pompous ‘old pro’ and his Roger is exactly that, a frustrated old pro.

Harry Hart

Zoe Doano is Brooke Ashton, a pretty but totally talentless actor dragged into the production for less than professional reasons. Her gormless posturing and terribly delivered lines are just delicious as her Vicki fumbles and flounders around the stage. Meg Forgan’s Poppy, stage manager, is equally delightful as she attempts to manage a barrow load of flawed egos as does Josh Tomley as Tim the much put upon assistant stage manager and understudy. Claire Marlowe’s Belinda Blair is so immediately recognisable as the solid pro in the company and the shoulder to lean on and Peter Lovstrom’s Seldon never resorts to cliche in the playing of the bewildered drunk.

Harry Hart, Zoe Doano and Peter Lovstrom

Ben Roddy is marvellous as Frederick Fellows, constantly seeking ‘motivation’ for his trouser dropping, nose bleeding antics, again impeccable comic timing. And finally Patric Kearns who not only directs but play director Lloyd Dallas in the ill-fated production of Nothing On, loud, bullying and with his very own romantic agenda.

The whole is wholly enjoyable nonsense, pulled off with aplomb by this multi-talented company. They’re crazily ambitious for sure but somehow, with just a row of doors and a clutter of props, they make total sense of this bit of hilarious nonsense. Okay, you could start probing into the characters’ psyche and back stories and all that, of course you could, but what a joy it is to see a play that is pure theatrical entertainment that for once does not demand that you leave the theatre pondering the state of the world and the human condition. An unreserved yes from me! (Did I mention sardines?)

Andrew Kay

9 July

Brighton Open Air Theatre

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