Posted on Friday, October 04, 2019
Often called the funniest play ever written, “Noises Off” comes to Price Theater this month.
Kim Barber Knoll, Coordinator of the Theatre Program and director of the show, said the British comedy was inspired by real life.
“Writer Michael Frayn got the idea for ‘Noises Off’ while standing in the wings during a production of a play he wrote for Lynn Redgrave,” she said. "The audience gets to see the process like never before. It has all the elements of farce – lots of physical comedy, outrageous situations and over-the-top characters. There are surprises behind every door!”
Such is the utter chaos of “Noises Off,” a play within a play, according to senior Musical Theater major Abigail Young. “Noises Off” follows the misadventures of a British theater company trying to produce a farce called “Nothing On.”
“My character Dotty is the benefactor of the show,” said Abigail. “She brought everyone together to do it, and she has a lot riding on it.”
What Dotty doesn’t expect are offstage relationships that flourish, then flounder, wreaking havoc onstage and backstage.
“Noises Off” is set in three acts that run in less than two hours – the first shows the cast in rehearsal the night before the play opens; the second is set after the play has been on the road for a month; and the third act bares the sheer bedlam that built up during four months.
“This is an intense, crazy and funny British farce,” said Abigail. “We have a two-story set with lots of doors, windows and a staircase that are put to good use, with stunts everywhere.”
The LC cast bonded quickly during rehearsals, she said.
“You really had to,” she laughed. “You have to trust each other because there is so much physical comedy involved. We all have to look out for each other.”
In addition to the challenge of learning stunts, the actors had to take on double duty.
“Every cast member actually has two roles,” she said. “The first is their character in the play itself, then the character they are playing in ‘Nothing On,” the show they are producing. It’s been a real challenge learning how to go back and forth between two different people often with entirely different accents.”
Barber Knoll said the cast has laughed long and hard during the seven weeks of rehearsal, and she hopes audiences will too.
Shows will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 16, 17, 19 and 20. A Sunday matinee will be at 2:30 p.m. There will be no performance on Friday.
“Our students are travelling to Americus on Friday for pre-screening auditions for the Southeastern Theatre Conference where they compete for professional jobs and interview for graduate schools,” Barber Knoll said. “We cut a Friday night performance so the students would not miss this opportunity, but we added an extra performance on Sunday evening at 7."
The slapstick British comedy has suggested mild sexual innuendos (PG-13), she said.
“It is not for children, no babes in arms. In terms of language, one explicit word is used four times,” she warned. “If you need further information, call the box office.”
Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens (55 and older) and non-LC students and free for LC students faculty and staff. Email the box office to make reservations at priceboxoffice@lagrange.edu, or call 706-880-8080 from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays. If emailing or calling, please leave name, the performance date/time and number of tickets desired, type of tickets and a call-back number and email address for confirmation.
This year’s Flashback Friday Party will showcase music from Stoney Dennis (5-6 p.m.); Mr. Terrific (6:30-8 p.m.) featuring Perrin Alford '86, Peter Alford '85, Rodney Nunis and Bryant Pippin; and Southside of the Tracks (8:30-11 p.m.)
There will be a couple of special alumni on campus for Homecoming. Verona Hill ’69, the first African- American graduate of LC, will speak at 11 a.m. Oct. 18 in Corn Auditorium in Lewis Library. Also on Friday from 2-4 p.m., Grammy Award-winning producer David Harris ’08 (Swagg R’Celious) will be on the library plaza to listen to and comment on student musical compositions. Participants must register in advance by contacting Felecia Moore at fmoore@lagrange.edu or 706.880.8995.
The Fall Service Saturday will be from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Nov. 2. The college will be partnering with the City of LaGrange in its “Leaving LaGrange Better Than We Found It” campaign. Register for Service Saturday.
The second practice GRE Test will be from 1-4:30 p.m. Tuesday. To register, e-mail jrkrzysiak@lagrange.edu. The other dates for the Practice GRE Test will be Oct. 23 and Nov. 7. All practice tests will take place in the Lewis Library multimedia room.
Spaces are still available for the 3D Journeys fall trip to visit the Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama, on Oct. 28. The group will depart from Sunny Gables Alumni House at 8:15 a.m. and is scheduled to return at 5 p.m. Cost is $95 per person due at registration and includes ticket to the museum and memorial, lunch, luxury coach and refreshments. To register, email 3DJourneys@lagrange.edu or call 706-880-8244.
Fall break is Thursday and Friday. Classes will resume Monday, Oct. 14.
Tuesday
Football
LC improved to 2-1 with a 50-13 win at Apprentice (Virginia) last Saturday. Seniors Peyton Haynes and Brendon Scott were selected for USA South weekly honors. Haynes was the Defensive Player of the Week after having a school-record three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Scott ran for a career-high 150 yards and two touchdowns to earn Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Panthers host North Carolina Wesleyan in a USA South game Saturday in Callaway Stadium. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Men’s soccer
Freshman Blake Webb scored twice, including the game winner, as the Panthers (4-5-1, 3-2-1 USA South) won 2-1 in overtime at Piedmont on Tuesday. LC plays at Maryville in a USA South game Saturday.
Women’s soccer
The Panthers (6-5, 0-1 USA South) lost 1-0 in overtime at Agnes Scott last Saturday. LC hosts Brevard today (Friday) at 3 p.m. and Covenant on Saturday at 7 p.m. in USA South games.
Volleyball
The Panthers (3-13, 1-1 USA South) split two USA South matches last Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama. LC swept Brevard 3-0 and lost 3-2 to Piedmont. Junior Yasmin Roper had a career-high 15 kills and .353 attack percentage against Piedmont. The Panthers host Covenant at 10 a.m. and Agnes Scott at 4 p.m. on Saturday as part of a USA South quad match. Both matches will be held in Mariotti Gym.
Swimming
The LC swim teams open the 2019-20 season with a dual meet Saturday at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
Golf
The Panthers play in the Royal Lakes/Oglethorpe Fall Invitational on Monday and Tuesday.
Today (Friday, Oct. 4)
Women’s soccer vs. Brevard, 3 p.m., Panther Field
Saturday, Oct. 5
Volleyball vs. Covenant, 10 a.m./Agnes Scott 4 p.m., Mariotti Gym
Swimming at Emmanuel, 11 a.m., Franklin Springs, Georgia
Football vs. North Carolina Wesleyan 1 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Men’s soccer at Maryville, 4 p.m., Maryville, Tenn.
Women’s soccer vs. Covenant, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Monday, Oct. 7
Golf at Royal Lakes/Oglethorpe Fall Invitational, Flowery Branch, Georgia
Tuesday, Oct. 8
Golf at Royal Lakes/Oglethorpe Fall Invitational, Flowery Branch
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Women’s soccer at Wesleyan, 6 p.m., Macon, Georgia
Men’s Soccer at Huntingdon, 7 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Volleyball at Huntingdon, 8 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Columbus Day, Oct. 14, is a very special day at LaGrange College as we welcome high school juniors and seniors from all over the Southeast to campus for a special Preview Day. Reserve your spot at lagrange.edu/preview.
LaGrange College to host panel on clean energy – LaGrange Daily News, Oct. 1, 2019
https://www.lagrangenews.com/2019/09/30/lagrange-college-to-host-panel-on-clean-energy/
Panthers going on the road – LaGrange Daily News, Sept. 28-29, 2019
Panthers open USA South schedule – LaGrange Daily News, Sept. 28-29, 2019
Category: Students, Academics, Community, Events, Arts and Culture
Keywords: theater faculty
