COLUMBIA, MO: “And the Noises Are Most Definitely Off!”

The cast of “Noises Off!” certainly had the laughter in the theatre of the Columbia Entertainment Company bouncing off of the walls. The cast and crew of Columbia Entertainment Company rehearsed five weeks in a row for six nights a week for lengthy hours into the night. Their efforts and hard work were no short of an amazing accomplishment of a production. “Noises Off!”, by Michael Frayn, leads us into the messy world of eight actors rehearsing “Nothing’s On”, which it most certainly is, because no one can seem to get anything right. Director Russ Scott perfectly crafted this farce in the living room of the Brent’s country home, in multiple different theatres for several different months. The best part? The play itself was, well, within a play.

Columbia Entertainment Company is the definition of true community theatre. According to Columbia Entertainment Company, they want to include strangers who don’t necessarily always belong to the company, thus adding to their “theatre family”. Their history includes a play-reading committee that includes a board of directors to help make the final decision-making process. Thus, their decision to “go big” for their 40thseason and choosing to bring what has been called the “funniest farce” or “Noises Off!” to their stage.

We follow eights thrifty actors and one extremely aggravated director into their dress rehearsal, which occurs the night before the show opens. With lines being messed up, clothes being tangled, sardines flung around, some people drinking alcohol before going on stage and relationships becoming skewed, there is only one thing that must be done – the show must go on.

The play begins with the actors rehearsing Act I. They are constantly messing up lines and unknowingly annoying their most beloved director while finding out new and entertaining secrets between cast members. While the first act ends with a secret revealed by Poppy (Jerrica Leonard), the audience is not fully prepared to understand the drama and madness that they are about to be thrown into between three different characters. On top of it, the entire cast ends up getting involved. Not one of them truly asked for this, because honestly, they are just trying to finish the show while having it make the slightest bit of sense.

I would like to acknowledge Act II specifically, as the theatricality was most noticeable during this period. During this time, the actors were behind the stage of the show fighting among themselves during the show they were actually putting on. What is interesting to note were the understudies who had taken part in this performance. That’s right, not one understudy, but three! One for Brooke/Vicki (Melissa Buehner), Freddie/Philip (Zak McKinney) and Poppy (Jerrica Leonard). With the entirety of a three-act play that included an extremely hectic and ridiculous second act, I must praise Buehner, McKinney and Leonard on their ability to seamlessly put together the act without any prior stage time from the regular actors.

This cast was an absolute rockstar team and were able to keep up with each other in these scenes, especially within Act II, as they handled a million and one different tasks that they were hiding from their audience. Most ran around as if they were a chicken with their head cut off as they dealt with their personal and realistic issues. I felt as though I was up there with them, especially with Garry/Roger (Jason Cavallone), who would go between being heartbroken, a madman and complete and total clutz on stage. His exhaustion and desperation flowed out of him just as the sweat did on his shirt while he was on stage! By the end, as he literally collapsed on stage from fatigue and weariness, Cavallone delivered an excellent portrayal of Garry/Roger until the very end of the show. To sum it up with Garry’s own words, “Erm, you know?”.

At first glance during Act I, the initial impression of the set of the house was basic and plain, even though it carried two levels and doors leading to who knows where. While not exactly impressed at first, it was not until Act II and transitioning into Act III that I realized how technical and put-together the set actually was. During Act II, the audience was able to see backstage of the set and understand where all the actors actually go during their scenes. This way, we actually got to see what is going on “behind the scenes”, which I found hilarious and completely relatable during a performance. From throwing axes, diva walk-outs and a little bit of baby-mama drama, I couldn’t help but keep in my laughter. Scene Designer Chris Bowling and the set construction team, which includes Brad Atkins, Sara Lahr, Jerrica Leonard and Jim Malinee, created a seamless transition of the backstage (Act II) from the frontstage (Act III).

It is extremely difficult to commend every single person in the cast and production staff, as every single one of them had something incredibly wonderful to offer and provide for this type of production. However, if I could, it would be complimentary to each and everyone one of them. It takes a cast of not only people who love their craft, but who love each other as well to create something completely incredible and riveting. In order to believe something to happen, you must believe in each other and yourselves.

It takes a lot of work, effort and dedication to put together a three-act performance, and thank goodness, Columbia Entertainment Company was able to pull it off poignantly. This production of “Noises Off” was awkward, silly and off-the-walls ridiculously outrageous at times. However, there is just absolutely no other way to do it. If playwright Michael Frayn had been in the audience that night, there is no doubt that this company most certainly would have made this man proud. Bravo to the cast and production crew of Columbia Entertainment Company, bravo.