'Noises Off' a hysterical farce

“Noises Off,” CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, through Feb. 18, 801-298-1302 or centerpointtheatre.org

CENTERVILLE — Looking to tickle your funny bone and for a remedy to shake away the doldrums of late winter? “Noises Off” is the ticket.

In a masterstroke of writing, playwright Michael Frayn’s 1982 work is the farcical play to end all farcical plays. Pity the man who ever attempts to construct a farce that would be compared to the jaw-droppingly clever “Noises Off.”

Actually, there are two comedies for the price of one. In the side-splittingly hilarious play-within-a-play, a hapless English acting troupe mounts a touring production of a farce called “Nothing On.”

Act 1 is the first onstage dress rehearsal just hours before opening night, with stumbled lines, second-guessing the harried director, misplaced props, missed entrances and doors slamming. Act 2 is seen from backstage mid-tour, the same scene from a different perspective, with romantic entanglements between the actors, backstabbing antics and more misplaced props, missed entrances and doors slamming.

Nearly three months later, Act 3 is even more raucous, with seriously burnt-out actors, more ferocious backstabbing antics when the romances turn sour and — you guessed it — even more misplaced props, additional missed entrances and slammed doors ad infinitum.

At CenterPoint, Josh Richardson provides strong physical direction and has worked toward razor-sharp choreographed action. The nine-member cast gets much of the rapid-fire, rat-ta-tat-tat-tat delivery that “Noises Off” requires. The attention paid to technical proficiency is at the expense of uniformly consistent performances. Some of the acting is underplayed and mushy, while other actors impress.

In the Monday cast, a superb Linda Jean Stephenson is the aptly named Dotty, who can’t remember a line if it were tattooed on her arm. She also plays Mrs. Clackett, the imperiously scatty housekeeper of the English manor home. Stephenson is hysterically funny. If only her acting was up to task to be the object of affection for not one but two of the “Nothing On” actors. David Marsden is authoritatively commanding as Lloyd Dallas, the temperamental and desperately out-of-luck company director.

Kati Paul as the clueless Brooke Ashton (who plays Vicki on stage); Bob Bedore as the vacant Fredrick Fellowes (and Philip Brent); and Mara Lefler as the cheerfully sensible Belinda Blair (and Flavia Brent) are likable actors.

Much to CenterPoint’s credit, the company sought and received one-time-only permission directly from the playwright to make revisions reducing the sexuality and potentially objectionable language for this production of “Noises Off.” The CenterPoint program notes that such changes are not uniformly allowed. The changes don’t bleed dry the play’s comedy.

“Noises Off” — and “Nothing On” — are delightful fun. Just watch for flying sardines.

Cautions: Mild sexual situations, to comic effect, and alcohol consumption.