| The original Bway NOISES OFF is, I think, the last production for which I bought standing room. It was a sold out Saturday night the evening before the Tonys and the cast was on fire -- I still remember Dorothy Loudon's panic curdling unforgettably into rage and Brian Murray's brilliant disdain and everything about Deborah Rush, who was sensational (as was Katie Finneran in that same role in the first Bway revival, in which LuPone was quite trashy-funny at the matinee I saw). The second NY revival was indeed excellent, especially Martin and Campbell Scott and Megan Hilty, who was as game as can be, bless her, as Brooke. I've seen the play more times than I can remember in London and it always delivers! Oddly, I've been told it isn't all that much fun to be in since so much of it is about executing choreography seamlessly and on point at the expense of character investigation, but when that is done to a high level (Jamie Glover in the Old Vic revival that also starred Janie Dee) the result really is comedy heaven. A lot of shows get compared to NOISES OFF (like THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG), none of which come close. |
