December 1997
Theatre Students Produce "Noises Off"
Who says a night at the theater has to set you back financially? "Noises Off," this semester's UMass Boston Mainstage Production, costs little more than a cafeteria lunch and is a rare opportunity to catch on campus a contemporary play well known in theatrical circles.
Written by Michael Frayn, "Noises Off" is a comical Broadway play that takes as its premise a group of American actors who are booked to tour the cultural backwaters of Britain playing in the British farce, "Nothing On."
"In academic theater ... we don't often do roughly contemporary things that are done in popular theater," said John Conlon, professor of theatre arts and director of the play. (The last contemporary production performed on campus was "West Side Story" in Spring 1994.)
"'Noises Off' offers theater students many challenges and playgoers many delights in seeing them meet those challenges," Conlon said.
The actors must convince audience members that they are watching onstage and behind-the-scenes theatrics of another play. The production poses technical and building challenges as well. The two-level, revolving set, which reflects the stage and backstage of a theater, must be built entirely on location at the UMass Boston stage.
Open to the public, the production will be performed in McCormack Theatre (McCormack building, second floor) at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13. A matinee will be performed Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. and a weekday show Wed., Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
The Dec. 13 evening show is scheduled to be a special alumni performance, while the Dec. 10 show was planned for the convenience of high school groups.
General admission tickets are $7; student tickets are $5; and groups of 15 or more pay $3 per person. For more information or reservations, call 287-5645.