Reveling First Nighters Get It On After Noises Off By Ann Conway
There was something fishy about the First Nighters bash celebrating the opening night of Michael Frayn's dizzying farce, Noises Off on the Segerstrom Stage.
Blame it on the sardines. And while you're at it, toss in the icy crab claws and the succulent oysters that were part of the mouth-watering fare that had SCR patrons piling their plates high during the upbeat post-performance festivities on Feb. 13 at The Clubhouse Restaurant in South Coast Plaza.
Still chuckling over the onstage antics that had a plate of sardines as its signature prop, the play's Honorary Producers Dee and Larry Higby were thrilled to see the audience have such a side-splitting time. "This is a play that is great fun and laughter is very much needed in the world right now!' observed Dee Higby. "We're delighted with the production's timing. It's a very difficult and complicated play to do."
Indeed. Entrances and exits and slamming doors occur at a whiplash pace in this play-within-a-play, directed by Art Manke, that follows an acting troupe (onstage and backstage) as the demands of real life get tangled with their plans for a perfectly executed opening night.
Besides enjoying delicious appetizers that also included three-cheese ravioli, veggie spring rolls and chicken potstickers — all washed down with bubbly and fine wines — SCR First Nighters helped themselves to desserts such as bread pudding and chocolate-covered strawberries as they mingled in the Clubhouse elegant rooms, where black and white photos of the play's characters — showcasing actors who included Kandis Chappell, Bill Brochtrup, Nancy Bell and Timothy Landfield — topped the party tables. "I wanted to keep guests focused on the performance and the celebration!" explained Lauren Hovey, SCR's special events manager.
