NOISES OFF, the comic masterpiece by Michael Frayn, also prominent for his dramatic works "Benefactors", "Copenhagen", and "Democracy", is not one play, but two: the hilariously horrible British farce, "Nothing On", and the comedic nightmare that ensues backstage. Slamming doors, flying props, prat falls, sardines and TWO-STORY REVOLVING SETS abound as we see the first act of "Nothing On" presented three times, each with successively less attention to the script.
The under-rehearsed actors and technicians desperately try to perform even as their rapidly deteriorating relationships cause MASS HYSTERIA and make for some HYSTERICAL COMEDY both OFF-STAGE AND ON. They all quickly find that as they muddle through, the more they work to take control, the funnier and more CHAOTIC it gets! Noises Off is written with a wit and heart that allows it to be more than mere farce or parody of farce; it speaks to what we love about theatre and makes us laugh at our dramas, both onstage and off!
With Theo Adams, Cynthia Roberts, Avi Jacobson, Vince Faso, Jordan Kersten, Annika Bergman, Norman Macleod, Laura Peterson and Nick Dickson. Directed by Colin Johnson, a relative newcomer to the local scene, but already an accomplished director of numerous staged readings and his OWN SERIES OF SKETCH COMEDY shows under the rubric "BattleStache Studios". Assistant direction by so-resourceful Emily Buysee. Stage management by Hannah Tobin-Bloch. Set design by his frequent partner in crime Brian Quakenbush, and costumes by the ever-inventive Helen Slomowitz.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. There is a special rate of $10 for groups of 15 or more. Tickets are available through the Actors Ensemble of Berkeley website. Reservations for purchase at the door may be made by calling the box office at 510-649-5999 (cash or check only at the door).
Notes: Box office/will call opens 1/2 hour before start of show - located inside of the lobby. Cash or check only at the door. Wheelchair Accessible - use the north side lobby entrance.
NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn
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nick mastick April 28, 2013 at 09:34 pm
Of all the concerns in our society, I put this just about dead last.
Steven Murphy April 17, 2013 at 02:25 am
Hmm. So I think you're telling me I need to add the countdown timers to the long list of Berkeley…Read More idiosyncrasies I need to ignore? I guess can do that. Thanks. --Murph
Alexander Sinclair Merenkov April 15, 2013 at 04:34 pm
This is very interesting. I bicycle and walk a lot around Berkeley. I think i know exactly what…Read More signal is being referred to the walk sign across Bancroft at MLK specifically will reset itself. many of the walk signals rely on induction loops which are loops placed in the ground that can detect Bicycles and Cars when the Bicycles or cars pass over them disrupting the current. You can often see these loops as they look like hexagonal saw cuts in the ground. Anyways the intersection detects traffic with these devices & if it doesn't detect anything then it assumes nothing is there and gives right of way to the major throughway in this case being MLK. So the reason the counter to cross Bancroft resets itself is totally logical because the intersection suspects no one is there and since that side of Bancroft is more or less residential there would be no point in setting that intersection to a timer where it gives priority to one light then the other & switches based on that & not on wether it detects any bicycles or cars passing over the induction loops. Also this is Berkeley and we are rather quirky and always have been so nobody exactly fallows the rules or knows about them its funny how simple crossing the street really is but its anything but simple in reality. Many people choose to jay walk if its safe to do so, this is typical on Shattuck at alston especially and makes sense for efficiency but isn't very safe or lawful. If the hand is flashing/Counting down dont cross!
Janet Scrivener April 6, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Actually, I just saw and spoke to him about an hour ago - the wire sculpture man. He'd moved down…Read More Solano a few blocks, opposite Safeway. I asked him if the police had moved him off Colusa. He said he didn't want to talk about it. He wasn't in a very good mood. I told him that people had asked about him on a web local news site. He said, "People want to know how I'm doing? I need a car. I need somewhere to put my stuff in. To get off the streets. I don't want to sit around starving in public." I thought to myself, "Who do I think I am? A Girl Scout leader? Pollyana?" I realized my upbeat, cheery tone was really not what was needed just then. I said I couldn't help him with a car. "People want to know how I'm doing?" he said again. "Tell them that." I said, "I will." I turned to walk away, knowing only too well that the real needs that exist, yes, right here in our lovely, excellent neighborhood, are great and once you start giving you'll find it's difficult to get out of. He did say, "Thank you," as I left. He doesn't look like he's starving. But he's right about being out in public more than he would like to be.
As a reasonable human being, I have to ask myself, what sort of person finds himself in that position? Ex con? Mental illness? Mind-blown Vet? Drugs? Alcohol? Incapacitated by an accident? An unforgivable act? Some combination of the above? Jesus did say, "The poor you shall have always with you." What would you do?
P. Park April 4, 2013 at 03:29 am
I agree Shattuck, especially right in front of the fire station is the scariest street around.
Mary April 3, 2013 at 06:45 pm
I am not disabled, but I am terrified of crossing streets nowadays because there are too many…Read More careless and aggressive drivers who act is if red lights, speed limits, and crosswalks either don't exist or don't apply to them. Shattuck in particular has become a nightmare to cross. Sometimes I have counted over 30 cars going by before one stops for the crosswalk. What we need is far more law enforcement - the tickets written would more than pay for the cost of hiring extra officers.