The Harrogate Advertisor

When a packed theatre audience is laughing so much you can hardly hear the next line, it's a fair bet they're enjoying themselves.
And there's no doubt both the actors and the sell-out audience at Wednesday's first night of Noises Off, Harrogate Dramatic Society's main production of the season, was doing precisely that.
Chaotic farce requires just as much work as the heaviest dramatic tragedy if it is to work and many hours of rehearsal went into getting all the on-stage antics right. But it doesn't matter how much a company rehearse if they don't have talent, and this company has it in abundance.
Very much a team effort, every member of a strong cast played their roles with a fine eye to the cumulative comic effect and carried the audience with them throughout.
Derek Newton's frustrated director, a man who carried his English degree like a shield against the foibles of his motley crew of insecure luvvies, was desperation personified as he rushed around trying to plug holes in his sinking ship.
Chris Cowling's comic timing was displayed to its best effect as not-so-young romantic lead Garry Le Jeune - twice of the Rose Bruford medal for effort - and he performed the best pratfall down a flight of stairs this reviewer has seen for years.
In fact the whole company thoroughly deserved the rousounding applause they received, and all can be thoroughly proud of their performances.
Director Joan Mallett worked her actors hard during rehearsals but directed with a lightness of touch that made sure the comedy never became heavy-handed - something that could have easily happened. As a result, the laughs and action flowed and once again, Harrogate Dramatic Society has a triumph on its hands.