The star of this weekend鈥檚 production of聽Michael Frayn's 鈥淣oises Off,鈥� is one of the largest to ever grace the Robsham Theater Main Stage, and it鈥檚 got director Luke Jorgensen more than a little excited.聽
Weighing several thousand pounds and measuring more than 40 feet wide, the two-story revolving set features multiple interconnected staircases, balconies, and six working doorways. It took a team of more than 20 students and staff members four weeks to build.聽聽
It鈥檚 also critical to the performance of the classic English comedy, which follows the on- and off-stage antics of an incompetent cast of actors.聽
鈥溾�楴oises Off鈥� is thought of as one of the funniest plays and I鈥檝e always wanted to do it here at 涩里番下载, but you have to have a rotating set and people told me, 鈥榃e can鈥檛 build it,鈥欌�� said Jorgensen, an associate professor of the practice of theatre at 涩里番下载. 鈥淲ell, we built it."
Video by Paul Dagnello, Jen Mahon '22 | University Communications
One side of the set depicts a classic English tudor home, the backdrop for a fictional production called 鈥淣othing鈥檚 On.鈥� The other side shows the faux production鈥檚 backstage area, where the irate cast members engage in shouting matches and at least one altercation involving a (rubber) fire axe.聽
Between acts, the crew must work quickly to separate the set鈥檚 three sections, which are mounted on wheels, rotate them, and put them back together. With enough practice, the entire transition should take just 90 seconds.聽
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the goal,鈥� said Jorgensen.
The finale of Robsham鈥檚 fall season, which also included productions of 鈥淢urder on the Nile鈥� and 鈥淧ippin,鈥� 鈥淣oises Off鈥� is unique in its physicallity鈥攂oth for the crew members moving the set and the nine-person cast. Actors routinely leave rehearsals having run the equivalent of several miles, Jorgensen said, in addition to practicing how to safely fall down stairs or be thrown through a window.聽
鈥淚 can't think of a show that is more physically intense,鈥� said Jorgensen. 鈥淚t's been a journey and these students are exhausted from it every night.鈥�
Two years ago, Jorgensen, a former theater major at 涩里番下载, directed a student production of the Peter-Pan-inspired play 鈥淧eter and the Starcatcher.鈥� The fact that he鈥檚 now directing scenes involving flying plates of sardines delights him.
鈥淥ne of the things I love most about my job is that you鈥檙e always switching gears,鈥� he said. 鈥溾�楶eter and the Starcatcher,鈥� is magical and kind of melancholy. And now I鈥檓 over here and there鈥檚 no depth鈥攊t鈥檚 lowbrow comedy at its finest.鈥澛�
鈥淣oises Off鈥� runs from November 21-24 on the Robsham Main Stage. Visit the box office for showtimes and ticket information.聽
鈥擜lix Hackett | University Communications