Noises Off

Noises Off is a classic 20th century farce written by Michael Frayn about a company of misfit actors and crew trying to hold together a show hanging by a thread. This design served as my graduate thesis where I explored area miking to subtly support the actors and the chaos unfolding on stage utilizing Timax PanLab Console to spatialize the microphones. I also served as composer for this production, inspired by classic British comedies like "Carry On" and "Terry and June"

Design

It was clear to director Eli Simon and I that vocally supporting our actors while emphasizing subtlety was our top priority. This encouraged the audience to feel comfortable laughing without missing any jokes while also feeling natural and present. We knew we didn't want to body mic actors. Instead, I elected to area mic the stage using a mixture of omni mics hung over the stage, shotgun mics would line the front of the stage to pick up the main action, downstage of the proscenium. There were also hidden wireless mics stashed behind couches and scenery to pick up any "dead zones."

Photo Credit: Jeanine Hill

Music

The composition of this show was heavily influenced by the 70's era of British comedy and sitcoms with a splash of theatric flair to have it fit the world of a dated theatre company. Such influential shows included the "Carry On" series, "Terry and June", as well as the Muzak Orchestra providing an instrumental foundation for me to reference throughout the composition process. The composition also included a mix of slapstick sound effects adding to the lighthearted and comedic nature of the play. The orchestration included a woodwind ensemble, brass, marimba, bass, violin, viola, timpani, and a small jazz drum kit.

Noises Off ThemeAndrew Yoder

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Photo Credit: Jeanine Hill

Paperwork

The system design for Noises Off was conceptualized with two main considerations, placing microphones around the stage as subtly as possible while providing the maximum coverage to pick up all the action and chaos on stage. Additionally, I created a speaker layout that could spatialize sound smoothly through the use of Timax Panlab Console software. This system was split into two main sub-systems, a vocal system across the proscenium to spatialize and support the vocals, and a spatialized playback system. This was my first time implementing spatialized software so ensuring even spacing and tuning between speakers was a priority.

The Transition

One of the defining moment of Noises Off is the transition from "on-stage" to "backstage" between acts. Showing audiences the chaos taking place on and off stage. This was accomplished using a large crew to break the set apart and reassemble it while underscored by music during these intermissions.