“A play within a play” is the only simple way to describe Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s hilarious performance of Michael Frayn’s “Noises Off.” Though, as I hem and haw on that description, I realize it barely scratches the surface of the intricate and absurdly duplicative plotline that takes us backstage in this piece. From Brian Isaac Phillips, CSC’s Artistic Director, directing the “fake” play from the audience to the second act taking place “backstage,” actors’ egos and shortcomings are writ large as comedic gold.

Self-deprecatingly playful, every performer in the cast represents a stereotype that must be all too common in the theatrical milieu. We see Dotty (Dale Hodges), an aged actress always forgetting her lines, the smarmy and amorous Garry (Jeremy Dubin), and Selsdon (Joneal Joplin) who is supposedly a jaded alcoholic. We’ve also got two women with a shared interest, Poppy (Sara Clark), the bookish stagehand along with Brooke (Brooke Steele) the prototypical bumbling blonde bombshell.

The CSC usually incorporates some laughs into their performances, ever striving to bring Shakespeare to the masses by making it relatable. This performance, however, evoked near-constant laughter from a packed house. The woman seated directly in front of me quite literally howled with enjoyment throughout, and it did not detract. I howled right along with her.

As the performance being rehearsed slowly devolves into chaos in front of a live audience, the antics rise to epic proportions with attempted murder and inadvertent traumatic head injury. Intertwining love interests go toe-to-toe with ax wielding and general cactus debasement. I can only imagine the cast, juggling so much action so quickly, feel as though they actually give two performances at a time.

If you’re looking for Shakespearean soliloquy, “Noises Off” will disappoint. On the other hand, if you’re looking to be entertained, “Noises Off” pays dividends. Running now through June 9, see it now as it closes out CSC’s first season in their beautiful new theater.

John David Back is a Cincinnati native who lives and works in OTR. He’s an avid reader and a mediocre writer who loves the experience of art and beauty. Tell him what he should experience and send fan mail to johndavidback@gmail.com.