Behind the scenes | 7 January 2012

Frank Rich loved it. ‘Noises Off,’ said the great N’Yawk critic, ‘is, was and always will be the funniest play written in my lifetime.’ Michael Frayn conceived the idea of writing a farce about farce while watching one of his early plays from the wings. The frantic hustle-bustle of the actors behind the scenes was far funnier than anything on stage. So Frayn, the West End’s brainbox-in-residence, wrote an intricate play-within-a-play where he showcased every theatrical blunder imaginable.

Just describing his amazing creation requires quite an investment of mental energy. So here goes. The inner play, Nothing On, is a traditional farce featuring three couples, each oblivious of the other two, arriving at an unoccupied mansion for a dirty weekend. The outer play, Noises Off, begins as a last-minute rehearsal of Nothing On in which the shambolic cast make a million and one hilarious cock-ups. That’s the first act.