Noises Off

Noises Off

Louise Gold starred, as Dotty Otley, at The Piccadilly Theatre, Between 6 October to 8 November 2003

Louise Gold was a replacement for Cheryl Campbell, when the show’s run at The Piccadilly Theatre was extended by about a month.

Cast (in order of speaking)

Dotty Otley playing Mrs Clackett - Louise Gold

Lloyd Dallas playing The Director - Philip Franks

Garry Lejeune playing Roger Tramplemain - James Albrecht

Brooke Ashton playing Vicki - Tilly Gaunt

Poppy Norton-Taylor playing the Assistant Stage Manager - Nicky Callanan

Belinda Blair playing Flavia Brent - Tessa Churchard

Frederick Fellows playing Philip Brent & Sheikh - Paul Bradley

Tim Allgood playing the Company & Stage Manager - Andrew Pointon

Selsdon Mowbray playing Burglar - Sylvester McCoy

Understudies:

Garry Lejeune/Tim Allgood - Paul Currier

Brooke Ashton/Poppy Norton-Taylor - Charlotte Endacott

Lloyd Dallas/Frederick Fellows/Selsdon Mowbray - Nigel Nobes

Belinda Blair/Dotty Otley - Kaye Quinley

Production Team

Author - Michael Frayn

Direction - Jeremy Sams

Design - Robert Jones

Lighting Design - Tim Mitchell

Sound Design - Fergus O’Hare

Associate Direction - Anna Linstrum

Production Manager - Digby Robinson

Fights And Movement - Malcolm Ransom

Stunt Falls - Roy Alon

Company Manager - Lloyd Martin

Deputy Stage Manager - Tracey Haddock

Assistant Stage Managers - Thomas Vowles and Jonathon Gabb

Sound Equipment - Orbital Sound

Original Production - 23 February 1982, Lyric Hammersmith with Patricia Routledge as Dotty Otley

First Production In Current Form - 29 September 2000, The National Theatre’s Lyttleton Auditorium, with Patricia Hodge as Dotty Otley

This production of Noises Off first opened at The National Theatre three years ago, with Patricia Hodge as Dotty Otley. It then opened at The Piccadilly Theatre on 14 May 2001 with Lynn Redgrave as Dotty (and most of The NT cast). On the 9 November 2001 the new version of the play received it’s first American production at The Brookes Atkinson Theatre in New York with Patti Lupone as Dotty. Meanwhile the British production transferred to The Comedy Theatre on 2 February 2002, and then commenced a national tour, starting at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley on 4 February 2003, by this time Cheryl Campbell was playing Dotty, with most of the current cast. After it’s National Tour the show returned to The Piccadilly Theatre, on 13 August 2003, with the current cast. The run was originally going to finish around the 4 October 2003, but was extended to 8 November 2003. Almost all the then current cast remained for the extension, except Cheryl Campbell, who was replaced by Louise Gold. This page is devoted that last month of the second run at The Piccadilly Theatre.

Click here for a Review/Account of the play.

Click here for “Sound’s Fishy” a light-hearted collection of observations about certain lines in the play.

Since Noises Off had its inaugural production at The Hammersmith Lyric it is perhaps worth noting that Louise Gold has appeared at that The Hammersmith Lyric’s Studio Theatre twice, in Angry Housewives and Lady Into Fox respectively.

It might be noted that Lynn Redgrave, one of Louise Gold’s predecessors in the role of Dotty Otley at The Piccadilly Theatre, like Louise has family connections with Unity Theatre

Louise Gold has previously ‘taken over’ various other roles for the ends of runs (often in the West End) such as: Maggot Scratcher in Sink The Belgrano, and, Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard,

Back in 1990 Louise Gold took over the role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes from Elaine Paige, funnily enough another role that Patti Lupone has played in the Broadway version of the same production (with the same director &c).

Louise Gold has previously appeared at The Piccadilly Theatre in a one night only production of The Soap Opera. Funnily enough this was also a production which found her playing an actress who was playing a character.

Louise Gold, and, Sylvester McCoy may have previously taken part in Thing A Thon also at The Piccadilly Theatre.

Paul Bradley had previously appeared in the Regents Park 70^th Anniversary Gala (where he helped to represent their production of The Pirates Of Penzance).

Louise Gold and Sylvester McCoy had previously appeared together at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in The Pirates Of Penzance (Stage production), and as members of that cast in The Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Performance), The Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Preview), The Pirates Of Penzance (Benefit Preview), and, The Royal Variety Performance (1982).

Orbital also did the sound systems for Kiss Me Kate, and went on to do them for Side By Side By Sondheim 30^th Anniversary Gala, and, A Love Letter To Dan.

Director Jeremy Sams was the Musical Director and that notable production of Assassins that Louise Gold appeared in.

Prior to joining the cast of Noises Off, Louise Gold had been appearing at Chichester in The Water Babies, which was also directed by Jeremy Sams, and designed by Robert Jones.

Louise Gold went on to appear in the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which Jeremy Sams adapted for the stage.

Louise Gold has gone on to play another role originated by Patricia Routledge, that of Alice Challice in Darling of The Day.

Philip Franks appeared in the documentary ITV’s 50 Greatest Shows

Links about Noises Off

Noises Off’s Official Site: http://www.noisesoff.co.uk/ (Please note the last time I looked the site was still listing Cheryl Campbell as being in the cast, sometime after her leaving it.

Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold (although this was some years before her appearance in Noises Off, it is relevant, because she mentions her own experience as an ASM) http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml

The Piccadilly Theatre’s website (includes two photographs from Noises Off, but please note although they are of that production I’m not quite sure if it’s Louise Gold or Cheryl Campbell depicted): http://www.theambassadors.com/piccadilly/sp_p653.html