College of Fine Arts and Design

March 30, 2010

University of Central Oklahoma theatre students expect to get audiences laughing with performances of the popular comedic play "Noises Off," presented April 8-11 by Central's Department of Theatre Arts.

Utilizing the play-within-a-play format, "Noises Off" is the story of a "rag-tag" British theater company and its production, "Nothing On," said Don Bristow, UCO theatre arts professor and "Noises Off" director.

"Things go wrong on stage and back stage. It's pretty zany. It's been described as one of, if not the funniest play in modern theater," Bristow said.

"Noises Off," which is a theater term for intentional off-stage sounds, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 8-10 and at 2 p.m. April 11 at Mitchell Hall Theater.

Written by Michael Frayn, "Noises Off" includes myriad complications, from romantic triangles and mistaken identities to botched lines. Slamming doors are such a regular occurrence that the set is a revolving wall of eight doors, Bristow said.

Since its 1982 debut, "Noises Off" has been a mainstay of theater groups in both Great Britain and America. The play was revived on Broadway in 2001.

"This is a farce, which means it takes something absurd and makes it even more absurd. It takes precise timing, tremendous energy and a lot of rehearsals to get it right," Bristow said. "It's an audience pleaser. Audiences enjoy coming to the theater and just laughing."

"Noises Off" tickets are $4 for UCO students, $10 for seniors 55 and older, UCO faculty and staff and non-UCO students and $14 for adults. For tickets, call the Mitchell Hall box office at (405) 974-3375.