Noises Off @ Cleveland Play House 10/8 Audiences get a peek (literally) at back-stage doings in the zany Noises Off. Michael Frayn's farce about a hapless touring British theatre troupe is one of those plays that after you've seen it you can only really remember two things: 1) it was funny in a frat-boy sort of way and 2) the huge set is completely turned around in act two and then back again in act three.

Directed by David Bell, this bedroom comedy relies on fast-paced movements (passing bottles, flowers, and more from character to character) and physical crashes (falling down stairs). It's the sort of play that needs lots of practice for the actors so that the silly movements seem natural. The choreography seemed forced on opening night, but by now it should be perfect. It was hard to understand some of the dialogue of this able ensemble cast, but that really doesn't matter. You'll get it. (And forever after you may wonder what's really going on behind the scenery of every play you see.)

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com
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