West Virginia State University will present a student production of the comedy “Noises Off” on April 23 and April 24. Both performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Fannin S. Belcher Theatre of the Davis Fine Arts Building.
The event is open to WVSU students, faculty, and staff at no cost, while tickets for the general public are available for $10. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance online at https://connect.wvstateu.edu/theatre.
“Noises Off,” written by Michael Fray, is described as a fast-paced British farce that gives audiences a look behind the scenes of a struggling theater production. The play centers around a troupe performing another farce called “Nothing On,” with each act offering different perspectives on their efforts.
The first act features a chaotic dress rehearsal marked by missed cues and forgotten lines. The second act moves backstage during an actual performance where personal conflicts threaten to disrupt the show further. By Act Three, chaos takes over as actors improvise to keep things moving.
The humor in “Noises Off” comes from showing both the polished performance seen by audiences and the disorder happening behind stage doors, illustrating how easily order can turn into chaos during live theater.