Curtain falls on “Noises Off,” but great memories remain

The cast made great use of an amazingly constructed set. Courtesy of Unforgettable Photos

One of the “backstage” scenes from Act 2. Courtesy Unforgettable Photos.

An excellent ensemble cast and an equally talented stage crew from the Manchester High School Drama Club put on “Noises Off,” a 1982 play by the English playwright Michael Frayn last weekend in the high school auditorium.

The show, directed by Michelle Shrewsbury and Susan Thompson, featured seniors Autumn Cole, Erin Thompson, Gale Shrewsbury, Michell Ernst, and Quenton Bortmas,  along with underclassmen Brandon Koch, Evan Thompson, Jakob Snowden, Parker Tungate, and Megan Mann onstage, the cast took a rollicking, farcical comedy romp on both sides of a uniquely-designed and constructed set envisioned by teacher Mark West.

The unique “play within a play” format is not always easy to carry off, especially for a young cast, but the comedic timing and delivery of sometimes challenging dialogue was admirable for a high school production!

The three-act play was conceived in 1970, when Frayn was watching from the wings a performance of The Two of Us, a play that he had written for famed actress Lynn Redgrave. He said, “It was funnier from behind than in front, and at that time, I thought that one day I must write a farce from behind.”

The backstage antics are elaborated on in Act Two, and as the audience watched the action on two different levels, the confusion and laughter increased in equal measure.

The senior members of the cast and crew were introduced and honored after Saturday night’s performance.

The Drama Club’s next production will be the musical, “Into The Woods,” with performances set for April 27-29, 2019. Auditions will take place November 27-29 and are open to Manchester Junior and Senior High School students.

Some members of the tech crew. Courtesy Unforgettable Photos.

An offstage shot of the cast. Courtesy Unforgettable Photos

One of the hilarious comedy scenes from Act 3. Courtesy of Unforgettable Photos

A comedic moment featuring Mitchell Ernst and Autumn Cole in the first act of the play. Courtesy Unforgettable Photos.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.