The Play That Goes Wrong

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society has reached opening night of its first significant production, The Murder at Haversham Manor, with a debut director proud to be at the helm of the society’s first play featuring such a cast.  But trouble is evident even before the lights go down.  (It’s worth being in the theatre early to see that.)

It’s difficult to imagine just how many things could possibly go awry in an amateur theatre group’s production of a murder mystery, but the generous author of The Play That Goes Wrong must have given nearly all of them to the fictional cast and crew of The Murder at Haversham Manor.  (That’s the title of the play within the play.  I hope I’m not confusing you already.)  Chief amongst the causes of these mishaps, naturally, are various inadequacies in preparation; but, even beyond this, mishap seems the natural order in the fictitious amateur theatre group’s present production — and in fact in all of its productions in living memory.

That’s the premise of this hugely popular international phenomenon, presently playing on six continents.

Without wishing to set your expectations too high, I must say that the script, the acting-as-actors, the clever physical comedy, even the mock violence, all conspired together very effectively: they hardly allowed pauses between laughs.  The physical antics of James Marlowe as Max Bennett were outstanding, but the entire cast was very polished.  The very well handled audio (by courtesy of sound designer Andy Johnson) enabled the audience to hear the Australian cast’s excellent articulation in its surprisingly good accents, and almost every seat in the house obtained a good view of all the proceedings, which were beautifully lit.  Special mention must go to Roberto Surace’s costume designs for their genuine look.

This is the funniest stage production I’ve ever seen.  Don’t miss it!

John P. Harvey

Photographer: John P. Harvey