Orville Mendoza in Noises Off A Three-Act Play Within A Play

By Dwight Byrum

As a veteran actor with Broadway credits and a history of crowd-pleasing comedic timing, Orville Mendoza is no stranger to the stage. But in the Old Globe Theatre’s upcoming production of “Noises Off,” Mendoza steps into new territory as an aging, hard-of-hearing, and perpetually tipsy actor named Selsdon Mowbray. The show, a belovedfarce by Michael Frayn, opens in July and promises a night of doors slamming, props flying, and timing so tight it practically clicks like clockwork.

“It’s farce at its highest,” Mendoza said. “People ending up in their underwear, missed identities, slamming doors.”

The three-act play within a play follows a theater troupe as their own production, “Nothing On,” falls spectacularlyapart. The first act gives the audience a glimpse at the tech dress rehearsal, the second rotates the set to reveal backstage drama in the middle of a tour, and the final act shows the show collapsing on its closing night. For Mendoza, the middle section is especially thrilling: “Act two is the funnest,” he said. “You see the play going on the other side of the set while chaos unfolds backstage.”

Selsdon, Mendoza’s character, is a comic wildcard. A former Shakespearean actor who never quite made it, Selsdon now stumbles through middlebrow productions, half-lost and half-lubricated.

“It’s a blast,” Mendoza said, crediting director Gordon Greenberg for trusting him with the part. “Selsdon is 70 years old, hard of hearing, and a little drunk. And that’s a formula for comedy.”

Greenberg and Mendoza have collaborated on multiple Old Globe productions, including “The Heart of Rock and Roll,” “Crime and Punishment: A Comedy,” and the annual crowd favorite, “Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show.”

“He specializes in slapstick,” Mendoza said. “It’s what he does.”

The cast has endured a few minor mishaps during rehearsals, a scraped knee here, a prop-related gash there, but Mendoza said the show’s stunt coordination, led by Jacob Grigolia-Rosenbaum, ensures physicalcomedy is executed safely. “The second act is 30

minutes of mostly silent, physical chaos. It’s a hundred different cues that have to be executed just right.”

Despite the show’s comedic chaos, Mendoza sees a deeper truth in it all.

“The thing that makes it wonderful is how these characters work their way through the obstacles,” he said. “You keep barreling forward.”

“Noises Off” isn’t Mendoza’s first time bringing physical comedy to the Globe, but it does come with unique challenges. Unlike “Crime and Punishment: A Comedy,” which was co-written by Greenberg and Steve Rosen andadjusted throughout rehearsals, “Noises Off” is a period piece, set in the 1970s and firmly locked in its original script.

“We can’t really change the text,” Mendoza said. “So we have to make it make sense for us and build new moments that feel unique to our production.”

Costuming, mannerisms, and archetypes will all reflect the era, which Mendoza hopes will make the show feel both nostalgic and fresh.

As a Filipino-American actor, Mendoza also spoke to the importance of inclusive casting and the pride he takes in portraying roles that traditionally went to white actors.

“Whenever it’s not germane to the story, it doesn’t matter the color of the actor,” he said. “I want to be there so thenext generation, the other little Filipino boy, can come to the theater and think, ‘I can do that too.’”

He credits the Old Globe for making space for artists of color and LGBTQ+ identities, both on stage and behind the scenes.

“They have breakout groups, support for the community, and they cast inclusively whenever they can,” Mendoza said. “They’re not trying to hide that.”

Asked what he hopes the audience takes away from the production, Mendoza doesn’t hesitate.

“We just want you to laugh,” he said. “Forget the outside world for two and a half hours. Laugh with us.”

For Mendoza, the WORD is Tenacity.

“Life tries to push you down,” he said. “But if you stick with it, you succeed.”

Old Globe Pride Events — July 2025

As part of its commitment to inclusion and celebration, The Old Globe will host two major LGBTQ+ events in July.

First up is the LGBTQIA+ Theatre Night on Friday, July 18, where audience members can use the promo code PRIDE to enjoy a special rate of $55. The evening includes a 7 p.m. social mixer with beverages and small bites, followed by an 8 p.m. performance of “Noises Off.”

Then on Sunday, July 20, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Globe will host the Pride Access Event in Copley Plaza, a free community celebration with a live DJ, drag performances by Horacio Patasio, Laura Z (as Daddy Ghanoush), Chi Chi Fuera, and more. All are welcome, and additional show tickets will be available for purchase.

For more info, visit TheOldGlobe.org.