Theater Review: 'Noises Off' at Town Players of Newtown

Review by Patch Contributor Nancy Sasso Janis

Town Players of Newtown have taken on the challenge of “Noises Off,” three acts of rapid-fire comedy by Michael Frayn. The Players are directed by Alexis M. Vournazos and performances continue through Apr. 12.

The director was cast as Tim Allgood in the Town Players 2006 production of this classic comedy, a role that he has passed off to Rich Lamkin.

Gary L. Kline, who performed in “The Dining Room” at Phoenix Stage Company, works with Tracy Nashel as co- producers.

“Nothing On,” a bedroom farce, is set to go on tour and the dress rehearsal is not going well. The action of the play within a play takes place in the living room of the Brent’s country home on one Wednesday afternoon. Lloyd Dallas, the show’s director, is doing everything he can to push through. The second act gives us a look at the backstage antics and the final act is a glimpse at one of the disastrous final performances. The production contains much that theater people will appreciate.

The script is made especially challenging because of the dialogue that is repeated in different ways and the second act is acted out without any vocal lines, at least backstage. The amount of physical comedy throughout must be almost overwhelming for the actors.

Missy Slaymaker-Hanlon, a theater teacher, leads the cast in the role of Dotty Otley, who plays the character of Mrs. Clackett the housekeeper. Hugh Tucker begins his role seated in the audience as the director of the embedded performance of “Nothing On.” His delivery of the “and God said” lines is perfect. Tucker is a math teacher at Shelton High School and sits on the Board of Directors at Center Stage in Shelton.

Eric Lyga returns to the stage after a three year hiatus, and does so well with the role of the actor Garry Lejeune, who plays Roger Tramplemain, that the audience can tell when he switches from Garry to Roger. The fact that Garry can never seem to finish a sentence simply adds to the comedy.

Katerina Levasseur shines in her Town Players debut in the role of the beautiful (and dim) actress Brooke Ashton, who delightfully overacts the role of Vicki. Levasseur works as the social media manager for Landmark Community Theatre, where she appeared as Janet in “Rocky Horror,” and is currently pursuing a degree in marketing.

Brian DeToma, who recently directed a piece for Ridgefield Theater Barn’s “An Evening of One Acts,” takes on the role of Frederick Fellowes, who plays Philip Brent. Kristi McKeever returns to this group after more than 15 years to play the actress Belinda Blair, who appears as Flavia Brent. McKeever’s credits include the role of Poppy in “Noises Off.”

Vicki Sosbe makes her Town Players debut in the role of the in-show stage manager Poppy Norton-Taylor. Lamkin, armed with his toolbelt, does well with the role of the stagehand/understudy in his Connecticut theater debut.

Bob Filipowich makes us smile every time he enters the stage as the often inebriated Selsdon Mowbray who plays a burglar. Filipowich, who most recently took on the role of Herod in Spotlight Stage Company’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” and masterfully played Black Stache in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” is a master of comedic performances.

While the vast majority of stage managers are overworked, Rob Kruzykowski must bring harried to the next level. Nick Kaye was in charge of the design of the set, lighting and sound. The set design must include a whopping eight doors to be slammed repeatedly and a staircase, as well as the ability to revolve from the onstage view to backstage between the first and second act and return to the first view for the third act. Kaye, who admits that “this is by far the most ambitious set he has ever designed or built,” meets all the requirements with a well-looking set that fits the smaller stage. Sue Haneman, whose work has been seen at Theatreworks New Milford and Richter, designed the character-driven costumes.

“Noises Off” is presented with two intermissions. The printed program includes the cheeky program for “Nothing On.” Tickets are $30 at newtownplayers.org and a senior discount is available at the door.