Noises Off *****

The Old Vic Theatre, London

*****
"At the mere mention – nay thought of – one of these many choice moments, you are indubitably going to be seized by the paroxysms of laughter that so gripped you during the actual performance."

Phenomenally well written and with an immaculately well-chosen cast, this is a sure fire winner to cheer up the winter months and January blues. A farce within a farce, it is these layers of complexity that enable the play to remain so very funny as other farces become dated. Predictability often hinders rather than enables comedy to shine through; not so with this piece. Inescapably intelligent, the whole play is a fabulously well crafted edifice of doors and sardines that, unlike many previous productions, only gets funnier as it goes on. A veritable soundtrack of wonderfully delivered lines, the exquisitely timed and executed choreography of movements in the second Act One reveals the extent of talent that this cast have to showcase. 


From Aisling Loftus’s pert-bottomed stance as Poppy as she leans over the microphone to announce the various minutes until showtime, to the fantastically timed axe-to-axe movement, to Robert Glenister’s quivering bottom as cactus thorns are plucked out, to the flurry of floor-fingers searching for Brook’s (Amy Nuttall) ever-escaping contact lenses, to the wonderful three-strong thieves’ stance near the end, this production is choccer-block filled with absolute gems. At the mere mention – nay thought of – one of these many choice moments, you are indubitably going to be seized by the paroxysms of laughter that so gripped you during the actual performance. For the long lasting nature of this post-performance enjoyment, if for nothing else, it is worth doing anything to get tickets. The hype is true – this is one hell of a production. It feels spectacularly unfair to pick out a fave (though Nuttall’s brainless Vicky has to be mine) because, truly, not only is there no weak link, every actor brings a real spark of quality to the piece.