It's not all about sardines in Michael Frayn's Noises Off! It's really about great comedic actors acting in one of the funniest farces ever written! Phoenix Theatre launches its 2010-11 season, celebrating 90 glorious years, with Frayn's Noises Off this week. The play begins performances tomorrow August 25 with its official opening this Friday August 27. It will continue through September 12.
Matthew Wiener, Producing Artistic Director of Actors Theatre, directs some of the Valley's favorite performers, an all-star cast, including Leann Dearing, Cathy Dresbach, Robert Kolby Harper, Joseph Kremer, Mike Lawler, Maren Mclean, Andi Watson, Christopher Williams and Luke Young.
The Examiner spoke with the delightful Cathy Dresbach about Phoenix Theatre's upcoming production of Noses Off. Ms. Dresbach is nominated for the 2009-10 AriZoni Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Actors Theatre's Boom.
Dresbach writes amusingly about herself in her stage bio: "Cathy last appeared at Phoenix Theatre in Always… Patsy Cline in the role of Louise. An almost Arizona native, she has performed in a wide variety of theatrical venues including retirement homes, bowling alleys, sports bars, and water parks. Ms. Dresbach also works as a commercial actress where she is best known for her trenchant 'To continue in English, press one.' and her recurring role of Incontinent Yoga Instructor. In her spare time, she is working on a one-woman tribute to fiber. Ms. Dresbach makes her home in Phoenix with a man and a dog, both of whom despise sardines and the use of the word whom."
Q: How Dotty will your Dotty be in Noises Off?
A: How Dotty will my Dotty be? Well, she is a little nuts but she is also the diva of the group and has her own money in the show. One of the things we have been focusing on in rehearsals is that everybody in the play, all of the characters, must remain positive and committed to trying to do a good show, no matter what goes wrong while performing the play within the play. In Noises Off, everything falls apart but you put on a happy face and pick up the pieces and forge ahead.
Q: Now what about that elusive plate of sardines?
A: We have many, many plates of sardines! We haven't had any real sardines as of yet but eventually some will be fixed and some will be loose. Keeping track of those sardines has been life imitating art. Cathy has sort of become Dotty in not being able to track the props. It's been driving me crazy in rehearsal. I have plate "A" now! No, I have plate "B" and plate "A" goes through that door and plate "B" is on the table. It's all about "plate and switch!"
Q: What will Valley audiences see with this new production of Noises Off?
A: Different from other productions of Noises Off? I don't know. I believe the audience will laugh until they cry and then they'll laugh again but that's not different from other productions. I think this play is easily in the top ten of the funniest plays ever written.
Q: Do you have any stage mishaps to share?
A: I came home from rehearsal the other night and my husband was already in bed and we were sort of chatting about the day. I was getting ready for bed and took off my bra and a sardine fell out of it!
There was a show I was in where I came on stage and the phone prop was missing. The phone was ringing and I was supposed to pick it up but there was no phone. The phone cue was attached to another cue so they couldn't rewind it and the phone stopped ringing. By the time I came back on stage with the missing phone, I had to answer it even though the ringing had stopped minutes ago.
Q: What other Valley theaters have you appeared with?
A: I have appeared with Actors Theatre in Boom, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, Angels in America and Nickel and Dimed. Last season I was in The Immigrant at Arizona Jewish Theatre. With Phoenix Theatre I co-starred in You Can't take it with You, The Women, Moonlight and Valentino and Always...Patsy Cline. For Childsplay I did The Yellow Boat and No Life with Iris.
Q: Do you have any favorite roles?
A: Usually my favorite role is the one I am currently doing. I like new challenges. Right now, you might say I am just Dotty for Dotty! Once a play is done it's done and I move on. I say, "Okay, put it in the scrapbook, put it in the closet and let's do something else."
Q: Is their any role that you haven't done that you would like to do?
A: I would love to be part of Circle Mirror Transformation this season at Actors Theatre.
Q: Well, I think you are doing a great audition for Matthew Wiener!
A: Yes, I am! I am really drawn to new works. I wouldn't say "Gee, I always wanted to do Lady Macbeth." No, I really want to see what's coming out, what's being published next year.
Q: What's next for you?
A: Employment! I am hoping for employment in some show. I am out on the audition trail all the time, just like everybody else.
For more about Frayn's play, see Matthew Wiener and the comedy of Phoenix Theatre's Noises Off.
Phoenix Theatre opens its extraordinary 90th season with Noises Off, followed by a spectacular array of great musical entertainment. Subscriptions and individual ticket sales for all of the Phoenix Theatre upcoming shows are available by phone at (602) 254-2151 or ON LINE.
Read about Phoenix Theatre's 2010-11 season, The 2010-11 Season at Phoenix Theatre, Part One and Next Season at Phoenix Theatre, Part Two.
Phoenix Theatre 100 East McDowell Road Phoenix 85004
Comments
How Dotty will be your Dotty? I love that question and I love Cathy's answer even more!
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