The Play That Goes Wrong

For some in the audience it possibly takes a while to ‘get’ this production because it’s really a ‘play within a play’.

The Play That Goes Wrong  is a title that covers what in fact is a horribly bad production of a murder mystery put on by amateurs, who themselves are played by The Play That Goes Wrong’s supremely skilled professional actors. These professionals demonstrate some of the best physical comedy you’re ever likely to see.

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, renowned for attempting plays well beyond the company’s capabilities, is currently presenting The Murder at Haversham Manor. In its ‘program within a program’ the Company says it uses the teaching of Michael Chekov as part of its approach to acting. It seems when they read that Chekov said, “An actor has to burn inside with an outer ease,” they even had vindaloos that evening. Burn, they later did that night, apparently…in more ways than one.

Even before The Murder at Haversham Manor has its chaotic beginnings we see the stage manager is experiencing difficulties…and it’s all hilariously downhill from there.

The wrong props or the right props in the wrong order, lines lost, lines written on hands, a dead body that doesn’t stay dead, vile-tasting stage drinks, a disintegrating set, a feud between actors; the worst bits of the worst amateur show you’ve ever seen- it’s all there. Thank goodness this show reflects something that in real life these days mostly doesn’t happen. Many ‘amateur’ companies are highly professional and lack only decent budgets and the capacity to pay their fine actors.

The Play That Goes Wrong is an example of Ensemble work at its best, with all actors creating equally wonderful, multifaceted characters. Most actors in this production are Australians. The cast includes Brooke Satchwell, Tammy Weller, Luke Joslin, George Kemp, Nick Simpson-Deeks, James Marlowe, Darcy Brown and Adam Dunn.

I probably shouldn’t isolate favourites from the Ensemble…but I will. Brit, James Marlowe was part of the London West End cast and in the Australian production plays The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s Max Bennett who, in The Murder at Haversham Manor plays Cecil Haversham. Marlow’s depiction of an overawed first-time amateur actor having childlike fun on stage as he plays to his first-ever audience is brilliantly whimsical. Adam Dunn is hilarious as the hapless stage manager Trevor Watson.

The Play That Goes Wrong is directed by Mark Bell, with Australian Cast Director Sean Turner.

Nigel Hook’s inspired set design is superb.

In terms of enjoyment, while the ‘right prop in the wrong place’ elements are predictable and dragged out a little too long in the first act for me, overall, the set surprises are fantastic and the acting and physical comedy simply sublime, particularly in the second act.

The final moments take one’s breath away.

The audience leaves with sore ribs from laughing, but the actors must be left with many more aches and pains, such is the physicality required.

Without a doubt,The Play That Goes Wrong is a terrific night’s entertainment.

Lesley Reed

Photographer: Jeff Busby