TEHRAN-The play “Noises Off” written by English playwright Michael Frayn and directed by Alireza Koushk-Jalali is on stage at Farhang Hall in Tehran.

Called the funniest farce ever written, the play presents a manic menagerie of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called “Nothing’s On”. Doors slamming, on and offstage intrigue, and an errant herring all figure in the plot of this hilarious and classically comic play.

The story happens in a provincial English town, a theatre troupe rehearses a touring production of a comedy. Unfortunately, almost nothing is going right – the cast cannot remember their lines, they mix up their blocking, misplace props, and they've lost sight of why they're acting!

Frayn's “Noises Off” takes a fond look at the follies of theatre folk, whose susceptibility to out-of-control egos, memory loss, and passionate affairs turn every performance into a high-risk adventure. This play-within-a-play captures a touring theatre troupe’s production in three stages: dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance towards the end of a debilitating run. 

Frayne gives the audience a window into the inner workings of theater behind the scenes, progressing from flubbed lines and missed cues in the dress rehearsal to mounting friction between cast members in the final performance. Brimming with slapstick comedy, “Noises Off” is a delightful backstage farce, complete with slamming doors and -- of course -- flying sardines!

The cast of Koushk-Jalali’s play includes Shaghayegh Farahani, Saeed Changizian, Sam Kaboudvand, Khatereh Asadi, Delsa Karimzadeh, Mohammad Sediqi-Mehr, Diba Zahedi, Hafez Esmikhani, and Ali Abdali.

“Noises Off” will be performed until the end of December at Farhang Hall located at Hafez St., after Shahriar St. 

SS/SAB