SOME FINE YOUNG ACTORS ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR TALENT at Diablo Valley College in the troupe’s current production of “Noises Off,” Michael Frayn’s frolicking farce about what goes on behind the scenes at a theatrical production. In fact, countless things can go wrong, and Frayn has chosen some doozies to spoof in this, his most popular comedy: Love triangles, sensitive egos and general ineptitude are the rule, both among the “actors” and the characters they portray in their play-within-a-play.

Benicia High School graduate Sage Georgevitch-Castellanos carries the show as Garry, the lead character in the subplot, “Nothing On,” a play the troupe is touring as its own overly ridiculous comedy. Castellanos plays the straight-man type, allowing the rest of the cast and crew plenty of opportunity to bounce their absurd antics off his mostly stalwart figure.

Second-in-command in the comedy hierarchy is Bradley Lorio as Fredrick, a tax-evading fugitive who has snuck back into the U.S. hoping the IRS won’t catch up with him before he can return to Spain with his lovely cohort Belinda — who, by the way, is also beautifully played by Jessica Dahlgren.

Frayn’s story is hilarious, and director Ed Trujillo has plenty of talented actors at his disposal to play out the zany scenes. And credit designer Jessica Bertine for a set design that is a feat of creativity and quality craftsmanship. The most effective aspect of the design is seen in the second act, when the entire set is wheeled around, revealing the sub-production’s “actual” backstage area.

Friday’s opening-night performance contained a few farcical flaws of its own that were kind of funny in itself, but that did detract a little from the flow of the story. Most bothersome was the seemingly crawling pace in the early scenes, which fortunately picked up considerably by the second act.

In the opening scene, for example, “Dotty” (Moselle Davis-Kaufman) can’t seem to get anything right alone on the stage as housemaid Mrs. Clackett. She flubs up so much and takes up so much time, it threatens to spoil the comedic effect. Later on, things get so hectic, it feels like the actors are literally out of control. In watching the play Friday, I felt like I wanted that humor to build more evenly.

One very odd character in DVC’s production is so funny, he may get more laughs than any other player in the group. The odd thing is that his style of humor, much like a circus clown, stands apart so markedly from the rest. Dan Cassilagio plays happy drunk actor Selsdon (with a small part as “Burglar” in “Nothing On”), portraying the sot as a total goof, from his exaggerated grin and over-size pants to his clothespin gait (picture a garment bouncing along a clothesline) and convoluted sense of timing.

Another character that seems almost too different from the others is Dotty (Davis-Kaufman). In the DVC production, at least, she is cast as slovenly and idiotic, as if this character might also have a drinking problem. That slower character type feels like a departure from rest, and it doesn’t gibe as the object of clean-cut Garry’s romantic interest. I’m not sure if this was the playwright’s intent, but for me that slowed-down element interfered with the otherwise brisk feel of the comedy.

The best thing about “Noises Off” is the way it gradually quickens, getting funnier as the plot thickens and as more of the punch lines refer back to earlier parts of the story, making the audience feel “in the know.” The beautiful set helps solidify the plot, and the abundance of high-caliber acting makes the production an overall winner.

If You Go
“Noises Off” continues at Diablo Valley College, 321 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill, through April 13. Tickets are $11 to $21 and are available by calling 925-687-4445 or online at dvcdrama.net.

Elizabeth Warnimont is a freelance writer specializing in the performing arts. She is also a substitute teacher for the Benicia Unified School District.