by Bonnie Collings
Warragul Theatre Company's production of "Noises Off" had audiences belly laughing from start to finish.
Across three acts, the cast presented a hilarious display of physical comedy, gags, farce and an immeasurable amount of sardines that kept you wondering what could possibly happen next.
A "farce within a farce", "Noises Off" followed the journey of a troupe of actors disastrously under-prepared for their tour of the show "Nothing On".
The first act was set in the final technical rehearsal of "Nothing On". Mere hours before curtain up on opening night, the cast was far from ready.
Act two provided a backstage look at a weekday matinee performance of "Nothing On" and the final act showcased the chaos of the troupe's closing performance.
As the audience filed into their seats, they were greeted by the impressive set. Featuring two levels, a curving staircase, working lights and so many doors, the set looked like a quaint dollhouse.
The use of stage was particularly interesting. Unlike most shows where seeing into the wings is something to be avoided, the plot of "Noises Off" enabled an exploration of what goes on behind the scenes. Certain scenes saw the wings removed or repositioned, exposing the raw edges of the theatre usually hidden from the audience.
Taylah Bordonaro as assistant stage manager "Poppy" sat side stage while the crowd settled, hidden just enough to reflect the nature of a true stage manager, always there watching but rarely seen.
Deb Welch began act one as "Dotty" playing housekeeper "Mrs Clackett", trying desperately to remember the order of her lines and her blocking to no avail. Sitting in the audience, the voice of director "Lloyd Dallas" (Andrew Smith) boomed through the speakers, positioning him as a god in the sky as he corrected her mistakes.
While act one was long, the repetition of lines and reminders of blocking cemented the "Nothing On" storyline in the audience's head, setting up the hilarity of acts two and three. Because you knew how a line should be delivered, it was even funnier to see when it wasn't.
Throughout act one, there were hits at multiple "showmances". "Dotty" and "Garry" (Abel Ferguson) were a rumoured item, while "Lloyd", "Poppy" and "Brooke" (Alyssa Fritzlaff) were caught up in a complicated love triangle. As the show progressed, the love affairs turned sour, resulting in cast collaboration breakdowns and comical violence.
Heading into act two, the backstage crew had their moment in the spotlight, turning the massive set around completely, transforming the space into a backstage area. Theatre performers in the audience were excited to see all the relatable behind the scenes elements, including a tub of lollies on the lectern, numerous signs reminding actors to stay quiet, water bottles on set and a display of weird and whacky warm up techniques.
As the show tried desperately to go on in act two, the cast lost their composure completely. Through the set window, you could see glimpses of what was happening "on stage" while backstage the cast were trying to kill each other. The background work and commitment to character from the entire cast meant there was always someone to watch.
Act three was perhaps the most disastrous for the cast of "Nothing On". Anything that could have gone wrong did, leading to everyone except "Brooke" desperately trying to improvise their way through the scene.
"Noises Off" was packed full of physically comedic moments reminiscent of a Looney Tunes cartoon. On top of gags like shoe laces tied together, attempted punch-ons, cactus spikes lodged in backsides and cast members wielding axes, almost every male cast member had his pants pulled down at some part of the performance.
The show had a number of stunts executed so well the audience thought the cast had actually hurt themselves. While looking for a missing contact lens, "Poppy" is hit so hard in the nose that she appears from behind the couch dripping with blood. In act three, Abel Furguson fell down the stairs so dramatically, people were convinced he was actually unconscious.
At the end of the show, audiences left the theatre with their sides sore from laughter, chatting all the way out the door about their favourite moments.
Overall, "Noises Off" was a spectacular display of local talent, proving that sometimes the silliest forms of comedy provide the biggest laughs.