Statement:

Statement: Producing the Play

Well for starters things that are posed problems in such a production as this would be that of age and also in the understanding of time and dialects. Starting with the age stand point I feel it is a very important thing as well as a key role in order for the show to have depth as well as variety and imbalance to the audience. I feel that although that makeup could make younger adults looked aged to possibly play the parts it just wouldn’t add the adult humor that is strongly based in this show. In seeing this production done by a high school years ago only makes me have these assumptions. Only due to the students knew the lines but, did not understand the crude humor that is placed in the dialogue by Michael Frayn. Following this would be the time period given for the show to take place. It’s a hard thing to give or take at that time only because of the way of risqué dress in the present is definitely not what it was in the 1980’s and would also not be acceptable on stage. I feel that I would prefer setting it back in the 1980’s only because of such choices as costumes would be a major factor because of the variety that is given. Lastly I feel that dialects are a major part of this play this isn’t a Texan play or a play based in New York it is based in London. Some people can do great London accents although some can be very airy or have one that comes in and out or changes from British to Scottish. This poses a problem but, can be solved with a visit from a dialects coach.




As for problems/answers that would be caused by doing “Noises Off” here at Sam Houston would be that of choosing a designer to make a design that would work for the show. The set in this show I feel is a very key concept and has to utilized and abused constantly. All throughout the show you have people coming in and coming out and slamming doors and abusing the set. I would have to rely on someone who understood that and also that the set if I were to direct show it would not be one stationary piece. As I have researched threw these few weeks the pictures that I have seen of past productions of this show is of revolving sets. As I looked thru these pictures I felt more as though the show could be preformed and understood better by having this in perspective. It gives more dept to the inside-out perspective of what this show is really about. Another thing that would pose a problem would be that of age casting. I know we have a variety of ages of people to play parts but, for the depth that I feel that this show has cast wise I feel that auditions would definitely have to be posted weeks ahead of time and also not one sided to majors due, to not having such a depth of different age groups. I feel that this show has to have these age levels to make the production balanced and work and get the laughs from the audience that are supposed to be there with the humor of the dialogue.



As for a critic’s perspective from what I read over and also seen that critics love this show and can watch it over and over again. In looking at the pictures though a lot of it has to do with the age casting as well as the technical aspect of things with things such as the set or the lights of the show itself. Many critics loved the show but, said that without the support of the amazing set design that the play would not be able to tell the story as well as it did or that the actors would not of been able to tell it as well either with giving the audience the inside-out affect needed to understand the dialogue. Having the stage side/ back stage style set that revolved really helped the actors in more ways than one. It just gives the audience a better understanding of everything and doesn’t keep them guessing. As for age casting majority of the shows that I had seen production pictures used or tried to incorporate different ages of actors for the parts of the show. After reading threw the parts I feel strongly that the critics thrived more on having an older gentleman play the part of Selsdon than someone of the younger perspective because it was someone that they could relate to and understand his anger towards what others say about him needing to retire. Overall I never really saw/read about a critic that hated this production in general and majority of them enjoyed it and could not stop laughing.