Posted: 3/10/16 at 8:30am
The Roundabout's side splitting revival of Noises Off ends performances today. Did you like this production? Which member of the troupe was your favorite? How do you think it'll be remembered come Tony's?
Posted: 3/10/16 at 8:51am
It does close Sunday.
I thought it was better than the horrendous 2001 revival, in which only Katie Finneran was funny, but it didn't hold a candle to either cast of the original production, in which every actor was brilliant, the timing perfect, the direction exactly right.
Following that train of thought, I'm perplexed by strange revivals, in which secondary characters are played by actors who are either given free rein to go over the top and upstage the rest of the cast (such as Annaleigh Ashford in You Can't Take It With You), or who are just significantly better than the rest of the cast (the aforementioned Finneran in both Noises Off and Promises, Promises), which, although fun to watch, really throws the balance of the play as a whole wildly off.
Updated On: 3/10/16 at 08:51 AM
Posted: 3/10/16 at 9:53am
newintown said: "I thought it was better than the horrendous 2001 revival, in which only Katie Finneran was funny, but it didn't hold a candle to either cast of the original production, in which every actor was brilliant, the timing perfect, the direction exactly right."
I've also seen all three productions and this is spot on. The original was hysterical and I was literally crying with laughter. One of the most fun times I ever had in or out of the theater.
Updated On: 3/10/16 at 09:53 AM
Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:36am
WOW! That went quick. Really wish this had a longer run, especially since most of the production ran during the winter.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:42am
Not that it's a gangbusters, mega hit, but I wonder if Roudabout is regretting not putting this in a late spring spot that could possibly extend a couple more months. It sold very nicely, especially for a winter Roundabout in the American Airlines Theatre revival.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 10:59am
nasty_khakis said: "Not that it's a gangbusters, mega hit, but I wonder if Roudabout is regretting not putting this in a late spring spot that could possibly extend a couple more months. It sold very nicely, especially for a winter Roundabout in the American Airlines Theatre revival.
"
Was thinking the same while reading this thread. Believe it would have continued to sell. That said, Noises wasn't getting the slot over Long Day's
Updated On: 3/10/16 at 10:59 AM
Posted: 3/10/16 at 11:18am
The show is running through Sunday and is pretty much completely sold out. I had a freaking blast. Adored this production.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 11:25am
this really would have continued to do well even if it was a 6 month run. Or even ran through June for the Tony Awards. With the Booth & Longacre so to be available, it's a shame either this or LONG DAY'S could've possibly switched theaters.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 11:26am
I loved it as well. Closing feels so fast because it feels like it just opened. At least it is a planned limited run closing versus closing because it isn't making money.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 11:30am
ACL2006 said: "this really would have continued to do well even if it was a 6 month run. Or even ran through June for the Tony Awards. With the Booth & Longacre so to be available, it's a shame either this or LONG DAY'S could've possibly switched theaters."
Honestly, it's a shame they're NOT doing this. With View from the Bridge closed and Crucible getting mixed early reviews, Noises Off would have a great shot at the revival Tony if still open. Also, it would help Megan Hilty's chances. The Booth is actually the perfect size for this production of Noises Off. I wonder if they've considered it. Who knows if the majority of the cast would be able to extend on such short notice, though.
Updated On: 3/10/16 at 11:30 AM
Posted: 3/10/16 at 12:11pm
With A View from the Bridge closed and The Crucible getting mixed early reviews, Noises Off would have a great shot at the revival Tony if still open. Also, it would help Megan Hilty's chances.
Hilty could still win. Please keep in mind that You Can't Take It With You was closed by award season last year, and Annaleigh Ashford still won Featured Actress in a Play.
Updated On: 3/10/16 at 12:11 PM
Posted: 3/10/16 at 12:19pm
Sadly, it costs over $1M to move a show, possibly more. With salary increases built into any extension, moving costs, theatre rent etc, it would have to basically sold out for 6 months to even come close to making that financially worth it. Switching Long Day's to the Lyceum? That could have worked, but it was probably too late into the process by the time they realized they could have made more money off of Noises. Plus, who knows? They might have had to lose much of the Noises Cast.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 12:19pm
I'll be sure to keep that in mind...
Last year, that category was pretty weak. There was truly a standout performer in an open show. This year, the women of Eclipsed and The Humans will provide strong competition.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 12:41pm
I'm sad to see this one close- Noises Off is one of my favorite plays, and I had a blast at this production. Even at the 4th preview, everyone was doing terrific work and didn't miss a beat. While I'm sure Hilty will be recognized, and deserves to be, I would love to see David Furr get a nomination. He took a character that I've never found particularly interesting and turned in one of the funnier performances of the night.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 1:45pm
I saw this on Tuesday and thought it would never end. I didn't think it was laugh out loud funny like some of the people in the crowd who were howling over some things. I thought the cast really worked hard but this show was just not for me.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 2:59pm
Having nothing to compare it to, I really enjoyed this production. I agree with Broadway Joe that the crowd I was with was a bit over the top. They went in ready to laugh at the most minor things. But by act 2 and definitely by the end of it, I think it deserved the howling. I expected to find Megan Hilty funny and I did but Jeremy Shamos was easily my second favorite part of the production. I thought some of the other actors could have been stronger while I could have used more Rob McClure and Kate Jennings Grant. It's a shame this is closing so soon as I would have recommended it to a lot of people who would have enjoyed it.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 3:06pm
I'm with Joe here; I thought it would never end. After friends had raved about what a side-splitting show it is, and the reaction of some around me, I was bewildered. I guess it's just too broad and slapstick for my taste.
The first few minutes with Martin and the sardines (that joke seemed run into the ground) almost immediately gave me pause that this may not be for me. By contrast, the following evening at SHE LOVES ME, I knew within the first few minute that I was more than likely going to adore it.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:09pm
When I interviewed David Furr he said most of the actors have other commitments coming up and his body could not take many more performances where he had to fall down those stairs so an extension was out of the question
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:19pm
Victor Garber fell down the stairs for a year and moved right on. Furr has only done it for three months; did he not have a good movement specialist to teach him how to fall without hurting himself?
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:29pm
Wouldn't you say the staircase fall is a bit more strenuous than it has been in previous productions, though?
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:41pm
I didn't notice it being any more strenuous than Garber's physical stunts (or Randle Mell's, who was Garber's replacement).
I don't remember much of the Gary from 2001, who was that?
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:44pm
Someone named Thomas McCarthy- that production seems to be his sole Broadway credit.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:56pm
McCarthy has since gone on to be a pretty successful write and filmmaker- he just won an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay to Spotlight.
Posted: 3/10/16 at 4:58pm
Wow, I totally did not connect the name.
