Michigan's Barn Theatre will end its production of Michael Frayns's farce Noises Off June 20. Performances began June 8. Jack Ragotzy and Charlie Misovye direct.
Based on the set of Nothing On, a wild English farce, Noises Off is about what happens backstage during rehearsal and production, a realm more farcical than the farce itself. Noises Off opened on Broadway Dec. 12, 1983 at the Brooks Atkinson with Victor Garber and Paxton Whitehead in lead roles. A film starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve and Carol Burnett was made in 1992.
Barbara Marineau returns to the Barn Theatre as Dotty Otley. Most recently, Marineau played Mrs. Potts for two years on the national tour of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, after portraying Madame de la Grande Bouche on Broadway. Other Broadway and tour credits include King David, Falsettos, Into the Woods and Shenandoah. She last appeared on the Barn stage opposite Tom Wopat in Sweeney Todd.
Joining Marineau are Joe Aiello as Frederick Fellowes, Penelope Alex as Belinda Blair, Scott Burkell (Titanic) as Garry Lejeune, Laura Dysarcsyk as Brooke Ashton, Robin Haynes as Lloyd Dallas, Douglas Mellor as Selsdon Mowbray, Eric Parker as Tim Allgood and Lauren M. Snowday as Poppy Norton-Taylor.
Designing the show are Dusty Reeds (sets), Elaine Kauffman (costumes), Brian Collins (lights) and Jim Knox (properties). For tickets ($25-$22.50), call the Barn Theatre at (616) 731-4121. The Barn Theatre is located on the web at http://www.barntheatre.com.
* Up later this season at the Barn will be:
Camelot, June 22-July 4
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, July 6-18
Perfect Wedding, July 20-Aug. 1
West Side Story or A Chorus Line, Aug. 3-15
The Maneuvers of Chess, Aug. 17-29
The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Aug. 31-Sept. 12
-- By Christine Ehren
