Staging a comedy is a real laugh

By Shaun Inguanzo
MATT Caton admits there were times when he thought he might have bitten more than he could chew with Dandenong Theatre Company’s latest production, Noises Off.
In his first directing role, Caton has taken on one of the most ambitious projects – a stage show parodying a stage show.
Caton’s challenge is not only to produce a show within a show – but to stop his talented actors from collapsing into fits of laughter as they see spics and specs of themselves within the characters they play.
But the result, according to Caton, will be thoroughly rewarding for those who attend one of several performances of Noises Off at Dandenong’s Drum Theatre this February.
“The play is about 20 years old and took writer Michael Frayn over 10 years to write,” he said.
“He used to write other farces, but one day he was sitting down and realised that the greatest farce was happening backstage, and was funnier than what was on stage.
“The result is a very impressive script.”
The second main challenge for Caton and crew was to construct a large, double-storey set unlike anything the company had built before.
Almost complete now, the set’s construction began in November last year.
But there will be few challenges for patrons who attend the show – with Noises Off guaranteed to be one of the funniest shows playing at The Drum this year.
“It’s basically a straight-out comedy with no secret meanings, and nothing serious,” Caton said.
“It’s one of those shows that if you have been involved in theatre, you will start nodding your head, but if you haven’t, then it will probably explain why you haven’t,” he said with a laugh.
“But it is crazy; Noises Off follows a really crass theatre company and as they travel around, the show falls apart and the cast end up wanting to kill each other.”
Noises Off will show at The Drum Theatre on 2, 3, 9, and 10 February at 8pm, with a matinee performance on 10 February at 2pm.
To book tickets, call the Drum Theatre box office on 9771 6666.