MARYSVILLE Its not that easy to perform farce, according to the Marysville-Pilchuck High School cast of Noices Off.
The live slapstick comedy opens Wednesday, Nov. 15 and runs through Saturday, Nov. 18.
Even though its a comedy, this show has been a challenge for everyone involved, said director Roy Klementson.
Its a lot of hard work, said Nick Poling, who plays a burgler as well as Selsdon Mowbray in Michael Frayns play a classic door-slamming farce that was made into a movie in 1992 directed by Peter Bogdonavich. A sophomore, this is Polings first appearance on stage at M-PHS, although he said he has mounds of acting experience for video production.
This is a fantastically funny show, Poling said adding he hopes a lot of people will come and see the show because its going to be really good.
Noises Off is about the final minutes before the opening of a stage play, and all the challenges of making the set work, getting the timing right, and remembering lines.
Most of the actors play double roles: the characters in the play and the characters acting in the play within the play.
A veteran on the M-PHS stage, senior Blakely Lindahl plays Mrs. Clackett and Dotty. Her personal challenge is playing a 60-year-old, but she acknowledges that the success of the play depends largely on the timing.
When one door closes, its really important to have the next one open immediately.
A farce is defined as a comedy based on unlikely situations and exaggerated effects. The slamming of doors is one of the exaggerated effects in this play, and the unlikely situations are derived from the contrast of the stage play merged with the real lives of the actors, with all their neuroses.
Its a real challenge to remember which character I am supposed to be, Lindahl said.
British accents add to the challenge and comedy, the cast agreed.
Brits are funny, said Erik Foss, who plays the director of the play within the play, Lloyd. A senior, Foss has appeared in eight M-PHS stage productions, and he acknowledges that things can be pretty much chaotic a week before the show opens in every show.
The good thing about this one is that its all about screwing up, Foss said.
One of the characters who plays only one roll, Danyella Garcia plays Poppy, assistant to the director of the play within the play. Poppy is a bit stressed and cant seem to do the right thing at the right time, so she cries a lot.
Crying is fun, Garcia laughed. This show is hilarious!
Along with remembering two different characters and getting the timing right, the slapstick element of the farce is also very challenging, the cast agreed. Slapstick is characterized by violently boisterous action, and the teen actors find themselves exhausted by all the activity, including lots of falling down and running into doors.
The energy and face pace is the highlight of the show, said Joe Jarvis, who plays Phillip and Frederick. Jarvis believes there is a good reason why old-fashioned slapstick comedy like The Three Stooges and Charlie Chaplin always make people laugh.
They like to see us suffer. Were in pain, but the audience is laughing, Jarvis said its worth the pain, when he gets a good laugh.
Poling agreed. The physical nature of the show makes it especially difficult, as well as the many lines to remember.
Kelsey Glasgow, who plays Belinda and Flavia, agreed that the many lines are the biggest challenge. It really takes a lot of concentration, she said.
Glasgow is a junior and appeared in Footloose last spring. She played the Cat in the Hat in Seussical the Musical and Ebaneeza in A Modern Day Christmas Carol.
This farce gives you an insight into what its like doing theater, said Joe Royal, a junior who plays Roger and Gary. Royal said he is enjoying playing someone normal, even though he felt a bit psychotic playing two roles. Its like having multiple personalities. In previous plays, Royal has played a genie, a booby, a hick and a fisherman.
The cast all agrees the best part of the show is when they get to flip sardines across the stage although they are just gummy sardines.
The director of the show, who is also drama teacher at MPHS, Roy Klementson describes Noises Off as more like a farce within a farce than a play within a play.
The audience sees the cast backstage bickering and arguing, and also onstage trying to hit their marks and try to keep their lines straight. Its sometimes difficult to keep up with the fast-paced action, but thats part of the fun, Klementson said adding the set is one of the more complicated sets hes ever designed.
It not only has eight entrances and exits, but the entire set has to completely turn around for Act II, and then completely turn back around for Act III.
Klementson is assisted by Colleen McKay, a student teacher in her first experience helping direct a high school play.
Shes doing a wonderful job, Klementson said.