x
  1. Home
  2.  Entertainment

High Point inroduces 'Noises Off'

| 25 Oct 2016 | 01:29
    From left, The actors Garry Lejeune (Lafayette junior Matthew Cohrs) AKA Roger, Dotty Otley (sophomore Brielle Morris, 16, of Wantage) aka Mrs. Clackett, Belinda Blair (sophomore Mackenzie Bigott of Frankford) aka Flavia Brent and Frederick (Freddy) Fellowes (junior Nicholas Meurer of Wantage) aka Philip Brent. The characters are seen in a fictional rehearsal, getting constructive criticism from their director Lloyd Dallas, played by sophomore Benji Morisson of Sussex.
    From left, The actors Garry Lejeune (Lafayette junior Matthew Cohrs) AKA Roger, Dotty Otley (sophomore Brielle Morris, 16, of Wantage) aka Mrs. Clackett, Belinda Blair (sophomore Mackenzie Bigott of Frankford) aka Flavia Brent and Frederick (Freddy) Fellowes (junior Nicholas Meurer of Wantage) aka Philip Brent. The characters are seen in a fictional rehearsal, getting constructive criticism from their director Lloyd Dallas, played by sophomore Benji Morisson of Sussex.
    Lafayette junior Matthew Cohrs and sophomore Brielle Morris of Wantage play the actors Garry Lejeune and Dotty Otley, a romantic pair fighting for the show they're in, Nothing On, to be a success. Otley provokes Lejeune by showing interest in Freddy, played by junior Nicholas Meurer of Wantage.
    Lafayette junior Matthew Cohrs and sophomore Brielle Morris of Wantage play the actors Garry Lejeune and Dotty Otley, a romantic pair fighting for the show they're in, Nothing On, to be a success. Otley provokes Lejeune by showing interest in Freddy, played by junior Nicholas Meurer of Wantage.
    Actress Belinda Blair (sophomore Mackenzie Bigott of Frankford) strikes up a conversation with her director, Lloyd Dallas (sophomore Benji Morisson of Sussex). Blair is chastising Dallas for yelling at a fellow cast mate.
    Actress Belinda Blair (sophomore Mackenzie Bigott of Frankford) strikes up a conversation with her director, Lloyd Dallas (sophomore Benji Morisson of Sussex). Blair is chastising Dallas for yelling at a fellow cast mate.
    Sophomore Brielle Morris of Wantage (right) plays actress Dotty Otley portraying the role of Mrs. Clackett in the fictional play, Nothing On. During the fictional rehearsal, Mrs. Clackett is seen reprimanding the character Garry (middle, played by junior Matthew Cohrs) a realtor who is showing the house to the character Vicki (left, played by sophomore Randi Wask).
    Sophomore Brielle Morris of Wantage (right) plays actress Dotty Otley portraying the role of Mrs. Clackett in the fictional play, Nothing On. During the fictional rehearsal, Mrs. Clackett is seen reprimanding the character Garry (middle, played by junior Matthew Cohrs) a realtor who is showing the house to the character Vicki (left, played by sophomore Randi Wask).

SUSSEX BOROUGH — Directing the 1982 comedy "Noises Off" by Michael Frayn for the first time at the school, Director Theresa Riccardi introduces a cast of nine with six understudies to perform an ensemble-driven play within a play this weekend at High Point Regional High School
“I’ve always been impressed and fascinated by the style of comedy in the show,” says Riccardi. “It’s a challenging script but they have the potential to perform it. The physicality in addition to the overall pace is demanding but fun. Most of these students are playing the biggest role they have ever had.”
The story follows the rehearsal and performance of six actors attempting to put on a successful show called Nothing On under the direction of their director Lloyd Dallas, played by sophomore “Lloyd is temperamental and sarcastic," Morisson said. "My biggest challenge is not smiling—it’s so funny. In the first act of Nothing On, nobody is prepared. It’s frustrating for him.”
Act two reveals a Wednesday matinée performance of Nothing On one month after the first act. This time, the play is seen from backstage and is almost entirely pantomimed. Set Designer Rose Riccardi explains,
“With two floors, it’s one of the largest sets we’ve constructed here at the school," set designer Rose Riccardi said. "It’s a comedy with a lot of doors.”
Act three exposes the audience to a performance of Nothing On near the end of a 10-week run.
The actors in Nothing On struggle to pull together a show despite their growing weariness and annoyance of one another. In the fictional play, actor Garry Lejeune (played by Lafayette junior Matthew Cohrs) is Roger, a real-estate agent showing Flavia and Philip Brent’s house to the character Vicki, who works for the tax authorities.
Sophomore Randi Wask of Wantage plays London actress Brooke Ashton (Vicki in Nothing On).
“While Roger is showing the house, the Brents come home early," Wask said. "Brooke is an airhead, always practicing her lines or doing her nails. She’s so bad at acting and doesn’t know how to improvise or listen.”
“I watch performances throughout the show and give detailed character analyses,” said actress and Character Consultant Pheonix Vaughn. “Everyone came in teeth-bared. Most of the students are playing two characters at once, and they’re constantly going in and out of the roles. It’s my favorite play because it’s so farcical, but in the many years I’ve been in theatre, it’s very true to the craft.”
Sophomore Brielle Morris of Wantage plays actress Dotty Otley, who portrays the character Mrs. Clackett in Nothing On, a housemaid with a cockney accent. “I love Carol Burnett, who is my character in the 1992 film adaptation,” she said. “A lot of my motivation and inspiration for this part comes from her. Dotty has money in the show, and so she wants it to be a success … which may not necessarily happen. We’ll have to see.”
Performances are Friday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $9 for adults and $8 for students, senior citizens and children. Senior citizens are offered free admission on Sunday. For reservations, call (973) 875-3101.