By Laila Casiano | Staff Writer

The Arkansas State University Department of Theatre is presenting “Noises Off,” a play within a play about a traveling theater company putting on a British farce called “Nothing On.” 

It follows the events and lives of these characters within their rehearsals and shows. Their relationship developments and power dynamics lead to a funny drama with built-up chaos. 

Dallas Martinez, director of the Fowler Center, is directing “Noises Off.” 

“For every show, a director usually comes up with a director’s concept and it’s usually centered around a metaphor,” Martinez said. “Within those confines, it’s supposed to be open enough for the designers to have their own artistic say.”

Martinez’s concept, “chaotic symphony,” delves into the idea of unifying all aspects of the production, including costumes, lighting and sound, into one. 

“I provided a playlist of symphonies that sound like they’re tuning or they’re coming apart, but then eventually they make something beautiful as they play,” Martinez said. “I saw this show with all these many different parts that just seem to be going awry yet still somehow makes a whole.”

Caisa Sanburg, associate professor of theatre, is responsible for the lighting and sound designs for the production. 

“I think my role is less to create aspects of the chaotic symphony myself and more to leave room for Dallas’s chaotic symphony,” Sanburg said. “If I’m chaotic with lighting and sound and then costumes are chaotic and then sets chaotic and acting’s chaotic, then nobody knows where to look or what to do. My job in this show is to make room for that.” 

Emily Province, a junior musical theatre major from Searcy, Arkansas, serves as the stage manager for the upcoming production. 

Province said her role as stage manager is to support the cast and director. This includes calling light cues, instructing onstage crew on what their objectives are and managing what is happening backstage. 

Province said the characters use humor to explore real-world problems. 

“You can see that these problems are very real to these people even though they might seem kind of silly in our eyes,” Province said.

Michael Joseph, a senior theatre arts major with an emphasis in musical theatre from Sikeston, Missouri, plays the role of Gary, who plays the role of Roger Trembleman in “Nothing On.”

“Gary is full of hot air and he’s sort of everyone’s actor,” Joseph said. “He’s the most serious and at the same time, completely full of himself.”

When discussing how Gary’s wardrobe will play a significant role in this production, Joseph shared that the audience never sees Gary in his “everyday attire,” only seeing Gary in his costume for Roger.

“I think that’s interesting because it kind of delineates who the actors are,” Joseph said. “It shows what this whole production is showing, the two sides of theater. The actors you see on stage but then there’s all this craziness happening backstage that a lot of people don’t see.”

Joseph said everyone is important in this show. 

“It’s the understanding of when people come on and when people need to come up. The sense of togetherness is what makes the show really special,” Joseph said. 

Martinez said he hopes the audience will have a great time and enjoy the experience.  

“I’m just really excited for the audience to take this journey and to laugh and to feel the energy,” Martinez said. “We’re at a point where we need people out here just giggling at the simplest things. People falling over does that sort of thing.”

“Noises Off” will be performed in the Drama Theatre in the Fowler Center, Nov. 10-11 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 17-18 at 7:30 p.m. 

Categories: Arts & Entertainment