The Department of Theatre’s fall comedy, Noises Off, will give its final performances this weekend in Fulks Theatre.

The British play falls into the genre of ‘farce,’ a type of comedy that involves absurdly improbable situations. The original production premiered in London in 1982 and soon moved to Broadway, where it garnered four Emmy nominations.

A classic play within a play, Noises Off follows a company of actors putting on a theatre production. After seeing the performance put on by the characters, the stage rotates to reveal backstage hilarity to the audience.

Written by London native Michael Frayn and directed by Australian Michael Blakemore, the play has often been called the funniest farce ever written.

Gary Varner, professor of theatre, is directing the department’s production. An faculty member for 15 years, Varner has directed a handful of plays on campus, and while he has directed many comedies, he has never worked with this play. He said trying to find his own voice in Frayn work has has been challenging.

“This one is very different for me because I am used to putting a show together and coming up with the farcical parts of it,” Varner said. “I just had to trust my gut as far as how to play comedy because that is a lot of what I do.”

Jeremy Varner, Gary Varner’s son and a recent alum, plays one of the lead roles.

“We’ve been together for so long he reads my mind,” said the elder Varner. “He knows exactly what I want and which direction to go.”

Along with the father-son relationship, the cast of Noises Off also features another interesting relation.

Acting with some of his current and former students, Adam Hester plays a lead role in the performance, and his wife, Donna, acts alongside him.

“Working with Donna is a blast,” Hester said. “She is really more of the performer as far as acting. We’ve had a great time and gotten to discuss the play a lot and give each other some ideas about the characters.”

Hester, chair of the Department of Theatre, said he has enjoyed working with a strong cast, including current students and some alums he has never acted with.

Hester, who prefers never to direct the same play twice, has had a unique opportunity to experience Noises Off with the benefit of two perspectives.

“I directed this show in 1988,” Hester said. “Gary took some very different approaches with the characters. It has been really fun to be a part of something that is fresh.”

For a chance to see five students, two alumni and even professors in this farcical performance, catch Noises Off this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.