“Noises Off” opens at Metea Valley High School Thursday, featuring a cast and crew of more than 30 students tackling English playwright Michael Frayn’s classic farce about the backstage antics and onstage chaos of live theater.
“We wanted to do a show that was fun for the students and very different from the traditional play,” said Matt Wolski, a Metea teacher and the play’s director. “‘Noises Off’ was that show; something the students would enjoy, (would) showcase their incredible talent, and push them to expand their abilities as comedic actors.”
“Noises Off” revolves around Lloyd, an ambitious director played by senior RJ Schlesinger, and his cast of mediocre actors, who are trying to put on a successful show.
“Lloyd is outrageous,” Schlesinger, 17, said. “It’s funny to see him lose his mind as he tries to pull all the pieces of the play together.”
British accents, slapstick comedy, an intense pace and critical timing are just part of what goes into performing the comedy, Wolski said. While not an easy task for the actors, the students – the vast majority of whom come from the Naperville and Aurora areas – have excelled since rehearsals began in September, he said.
“From the intense marathon-like physicality and energy needed to perform the show to developing and creating the character within the character, the students have stepped up,” Wolski said.
Schlesinger said the results include many scenes where “everything on stage appears to be coming unhinged.”
“We hope members of our community come to the show, support live theater and have a few good laughs,” he said.
Wolski shared the sentiment.
“It’s a highly entertaining show that takes the audience through the trials of production rehearsals and the relationships that form during the process,” the director said. “It’s all sunshine and rainbows until it isn’t. Our production will have the audience in stitches.”
“Noises Off” opens Thursday and runs through Saturday.
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Jane Donahue is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
“Noises Off”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Where: Metea Valley High School, 1801 N. Eola Road, Aurora
Tickets: $8
Information: www.meteamusic.org/theater.html