The Play That Goes Wrong

Everything went right at the Play That Goes Wrong at the Sydney Opera House, as the well-oiled machine of chaos was perfectly choreographed to squeeze fits of laughter from the audience at regular intervals.

On its tenth anniversary tour of Australia, the fun begins in the foyer, with cast members frantically asking the audience if they knew where a missing dog had gone.

In the theatre, my plus one was amused to see actors tumbling over our seats.

Last minute chaos was also happening on the stage as the tech crew frantically repaired the set in preparation for the Cornley Drama Society’s attempt to stage a murder mystery.

Originally premiering in a small pub theatre, before transferring to the West End, The Play Goes Wrong franchise has become a global phenomenon – still running Off Broadway and in London for the eighth year.

The set is perhaps the biggest star of the show – the musical instrument of the production. Even though I have seen it before, I remain intrigued at how those bits of the country manor set fall off with such impeccable timing. The end of the play is grand cadenza.

Playing the musical instrument was a first-rate cast who put their own stamp on the chaos.

To mention just a few - Sebastiano Pitruzzello, who played the victim of the murder Cecil Haversham, was able to wrinkle laughter with the smallest wriggle.

Edmund (Eds) Eramiha as stagehand Trevor was uber-charismatic. How often do we see an actor with training in Māori weaponry and kick boxing in full flight on an Australian stage?

The two female members of the cast, Stephanie Astrid John (Sandra) and Olivia Charalambous (Annie), got into a delicious fight as they competed to play the one role.

The frantic pace never wavers, punctuated by regular violent mishaps.

 There are eight in the cast – so it’s not surprising there are three understudies for the national tour given the potential for real life injury.

If you have been around in amateur theatre then The Play That Goes Wrong can be a bit like shell shock.

All the trauma of mishaps on stage in days gone by can come flooding back.  

If only things could go wrong with the same panache as this hilarious production.

David Spicer

Photographer: Jordan Munns

Click here to read Coral Drouyn's feature story.

Sydney Opera House

19 June – 3 August 2025

HOTA, Gold Coast

6 – 10 August 2025

Empire Theatre, Toowoomba

11 – 15 August 2025

Civic Theatre, Newcastle

19 – 31 August 2025

Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne

3 – 21 September 2025