Archive: Around Town

'Noises Off' will be presented on May 4-6 with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7pm, Sunday at 2pm in the renovated theatre at Trumansburg High School, right next to the Grassroots fairgrounds. The clever script by Michael Frayn tells the story of a slightly incompetent troupe of actors struggling to perform a play within the play.

“The audience sees the characters in the play ‘Noises Off’ rehearsing and performing a play called ‘Nothing On’ – sometimes even from the backstage view," says Director Joey Steinhagen. "It’s a rare opportunity for audiences to see the theatre sausage getting made, and it’s not always a pretty sight. We watch them live a series of escalating actor’s nightmares – forgotten lines, late cues, missing props, falling pants. Not to mention the hidden world of inter-cast member romances and conflicts which sometimes accompany putting on a show.”

The ensemble cast of nine R2P veterans (Matt Avery, Sarah Beckwith, Grace Bobertz, Austin Brecht, Bryce Damiani, Kai Haskins, Kevin Hilgartner, Jenna Ledet, and Emma Plotkin) hail from Dryden, Ithaca, Lansing, and Trumansburg.

“It’s one of the sharpest and most professional casts I’ve ever worked with,” beams Steinhagen. They need to be for this play. The actors must not only prepare complex wordplay and perfect the timing of their door-slamming antics, but also they must juggle characters on multiple levels. Everyone plays someone in ‘Noises Off’ who also plays at least one character in ‘Nothing On.’ This sometimes presented hilarious challenges during rehearsals. According to Steinhagen, “I would have to be clear whether I was giving the direction to the actor, or to the character he or she was playing, or in regards to the character that that character was playing. It makes you dizzy to think about.”

Fortunately, there is an equally talented stage management team keeping track of all the details. Stage Manager Lexi Brennan is a college-bound homeschooler who has been with the company from the beginning. She is assisted by Noah Elman and Allison Mollenkamp who diligently track the countless props and entrances and exits for the cast. “We’d all be lost in every rehearsal without this team,” says Steinhagen.

The production also benefits from the artistry of Scenic Designer Tyler M. Perry, whose work audiences have seen this year in Hairspray and Oliver. The set for Noises Off is a full-stage, two-story affair that features the requisite-for-a-farce slamming doors, as well as big surprises.

“The acts alternately take place in front of and behind the set,” says Steinhagen. “Tyler has done it again, and given us a beautiful, clever, and versatile set to play on. It’s like the tenth character in the play.”

Other members of the team include Lighting Designer Jennette Kollmann, Costume Designer Diane Beckwith, Technical Director Pierre Clavel, and Producer/R2P Co-Artistic Director Gail Belokur.

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