Theatre SPX: 'Noises Off'

Theatre SPX had its first production of the year called, “Noises Off.” It was a play about a group of people preparing for their own show, so it was a very ironic production. I sat down with Mrs. Gloria Fant, director of the play and two other students who had lead roles to learn more about the production. 

One of the most successful and elaborate things about this play was the set, How was it made and was there ever a struggle to get it done in time? 
Mrs. Gloria Fant: My daughter (Ashley Fant) and I understood the difficult demands of this play and did not back down from the challenges.  I suggested some easier ways to complete the set, but she was confident in her skills and the skills of her Stagecraft students. I never worried that it would not be done in time, because I know her work ethic, but I was anxious to get everything done so that the actors would have the ability to get their timing down and perfected. Timing was such a crucial element in this show and going up and down steps and in and out of doors takes practice!

Out of all the productions you have directed or helped produce, where does this play rank on that list? And why?
Mrs. Gloria Fant: I must admit that “NOISES OFF” ranks high on my list of favorite shows.  The demands on the actors and the stage crew make it such a great challenge, plus it is so funny. It is, however, a beast to rehearse, but the rehearsals are my favorite part. I love seeing the pieces all come together and I do enjoy a good challenge. I also really enjoy working on a good drama that lets the actors and director dig deep for meaning. Since I am also a music major and a vocalist, I also have several musicals I have truly enjoyed directing, such as “INTO THE WOODS.”

I understand that your daughter, Ms. Ashley Fant was a big part of producing this play. What was her role and what was the experience like working with her?
Mrs. Gloria Fant: I am very fortunate to work with my daughter, Ashley Fant, who has her MFA in technical theatre from the University of Houston.  She and I were able to collaborate on this production, as we will whenever we work together. She and I have always been close and we have always worked well together so I knew that I could trust her with certain aspects of the play. 

What is the name of the character you played and can you describe the experience of playing her in the production?
Kathleen Blute: I played Dotty Otley, who in turn was acting as Mrs. Clackett in the play-within-a-play. Mrs. Clackett was a lot of fun, especially because I got to use a ridiculously fake Cockney accent (because the American Dotty Otley is a horrible actress). Essentially, I was a bad actor playing a ridiculous character and I had free rein to go crazy. 

How much preparation did it take to memorize all of your lines and to learn how to correctly play your character?
Kathleen Blute: I struggled to create Dotty, because she only really has lines in the first act. Mrs. Clackett was fun though. I worked really hard to get her butt wiggling like the busybody she is. The lines were tough because it's literally the same play done three times, with small but important changes done to the script each act. I said one line - "Always the same, isn't it?" - four different ways in the course of the play. 

Overall, how was the experience of playing a lead role in this play? Was it enjoyable or just another production?
Kathleen Blute: There's never "just another production." Every cast is unique and the difficulty of this play in particular made this rehearsal time pretty grueling. It was incredibly worth it, however, in the end. I worked harder and became smoother in my role than I ever have and I got so much satisfaction out of it. I loved the chance to improve and to spend hours bonding with my fellow cast members and crew. 

What is the name of the character you played, and can you describe the experience of playing this character in the play? 
Marvin Deaver: The character I portrayed was Selsdon Mowbarry, an alcoholic actor who usually specialized in Shakespearean theatre. This was a fun character for me because I got to act like an alcoholic and a thief, two things I've personally always wanted to play. It was actually a fairly easy role, since I didn't have to fake a stutter or constantly change clothes like some of my other castmates. I simply had to act like a loopy old man. 

What was the most fun or enjoyable part of being in this production?
Marvin Deaver: Getting closer to people you've never really talked to is always one of the best things in a production. I had friends I've known quite a while and people I haven't talked to that much that I've now grown close to. I also enjoyed running around pretending to be loopy old man and jumping off a couch.

Did you feel that you had a connection to the character you played and did you feel that your character was in sync with your personality?
Marvin Deaver: Yes. I can't count the amount of classmates and former castmates who came up to me and said, "Were you even acting up there?" Most of the things Selsdon does are things I do, from wandering around, being loopy, and even the hard of hearing. I felt in sync with my character in the fact that we're both childlike in nature and everyone had to run around and find Selsdon just like they had to chase me down to get makeup (I was the only person who had to be aged, so I tried to avoid it as long as possible.).