Need a good laugh? Head to the Massey Theatre in New Westminster, where the laughter comes swift and often as the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Noises Off plays until February 27th.
Scott Bellis returns to direct the remount of his Arts Club Theatre Company’s pre-pandemic 2020 production. The Massey Theatre’s run also brings back all of the original cast, except Kayvon Khoshkam replaces Jovanni Sy as the bumbling Freddie. Bellis and this seasoned cast and crew manage to make perfectly choreographed chaos a joy to watch. Even two years later, the rest of the cast feels even more at home as they step back into their roles, slamming doors and slapping sardines.
Directing the play within in a play “Nothing On”, Andrew McNee embue director Lloyd Dallas with his usual slapstick charisma. Handsome, leading man Garry, played by handsome, leading man Charlie Gallant, masters the stuntman-like physical comedy, as well as the character’s delivery of head-scratchingly pointless points. Dotty, the veteran star played with by Colleen Winston masters the mile-a-minute dialogue, while Tess Degenstein’s blonde starlet Brooke brings many a raucous laugh from the audience. Emma Slipp’s Belinda is pulled here and there as she barely manages to keep the troupe in-line and alive, while stage-managers / understudies / general dogs-bodies Poppy (Ming Hudson) and Tim (Nora McLellan) unsuccessfully attempt to hold the line backstage as the “Nothing On” tour winds its way across the regional theatres of England. Andy Maton’s hard of hearing, alcoholic, senior actor Seldon rounds out the rogues gallery of comedy.
Even though it celebrates its 40th anniversary next week, Noises Off is still a timeless farce to warm our bellies with laughter on these winter nights. It’s also a perfect play to bring audiences back to theatres, as it celebrates the theatre and parallels the last couple years of making the most of it as theatres have had to adapt to the rapidly changing environment around them.
The Massey Theatre presents the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Noises Off until February 27, 2022 at 735-8th Avenue New Westminster, tickets are on sale now at masseytheatre.com.