Red Curtain’s play within play ‘Noises Off’ delightfully funny

Published 1:30 am Friday, May 19, 2017

Saucers of smelly sardines, slamming doors, slipping slacks, backstage shenanigans and a sex farce.

You’ll find it all in Michael Frayn’s hilarious play-within-a-play — “Noises Off” — on Marysville’s Red Curtain Arts Center stage through June 4.

It’s the sort of comedy that nearly any community theater group could butcher and still garner a few belly laughs.

However, Red Curtain does a delightful job with this laugh-a-minute, fast-paced British comedy. The cast, crew and director Scott B Randall are outstanding.

The play in this play is titled “Nothing On,” and it even has its own (upside down) program within the “Noises Off” program.

The farce involves a housekeeper, a real estate agent trying to seduce a sexy young accountant, the couple who own the country house and a burglar. We see the first act of “Nothing On” in a rehearsal and then behind the stage during a performance. Yep, the entire set is turned 180 degrees during the first intermission. The final scene involves a performance of “Nothing On” (front of the stage) after a 10-week run.

“Nothing On” is directed by Lloyd Dallas (John Klise), who is in a love triangle with assistant stage manager Poppy Norton-Taylor (Lydia O’Day) and the self-centered young actress Brooke Ashton (Rebecca Erickson). Tim Allgood (Dale Arends) is the stage manager who tries to keep the show going.

Selsdon Mowbray (Richard Morris) is an old drunk who plays the burglar. He is being looked after by veteran actress Belinda Blair (Erin Carter). (By the way, see if you can guess the inspiration for Belinda’s costume.) Belinda also is fond of Freddie Fellowes (Christopher Barnes), the sensitive actor who plays her husband when he is not dealing with nosebleeds.

My favorite characters were Dotty Otley (Sherry Penoyer), the aging character actress who plays the housekeeper and Garry LeJeune (Nick Poling) who plays the energetic real estate guy.

Some of these Snohomish County actors are Red Curtain favorites and some are returning to the stage after extended hiatuses from the stage. Nearly 50 people auditioned for the nine roles.

The funniest scenes are when the action takes place backstage, and it’s interesting how audiences laugh just as much, but a tad bit quieter.

Randall is pleased to end the Red Curtain performance season with “Noises Off.”

“The story is a celebration of the dynamic range of ups and downs one experiences in creating theater,” he said in his director’s statement.

When you enter the Red Curtain center, be aware that construction is still ongoing and donations to the group continue to be welcomed. The importance of this place in the north Snohomish County community is growing.

“Noises Off”

Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through June 4 at the Red Curtain Arts Center, 9315 State Ave., Suite J, Marysville (in the Goodwill shopping center, behind the Everett Community College cosmetology school). The play contains adult situations and language, and is really not appropriate for children, unless you have a mature 12-year-old. Such kids get in for $5.

Ticket prices are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, students and military personnel, and are available online at brownpapertickets.com/event/2933106, at the box office from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday or by phoning 360-322-7402.

For more information, go to www.redcurtainfoundation.org.