A Rollicking Brit Sendup Delivers in Spades with ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria
“The Play That Goes Wrong”
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
ALEXANDRIA, VA-Take a deep breath or two, then prepare to fall down laughing. Oh, righto, dear reader, thankfully you’re already well seated. From start to rollicking finish, this hilarious play-within-a-play on steroids never misses a comedic beat as this splendid twelve-member cast proves that anything that can go wrong, will… spectacularly. You’ll recall the old chestnut of Murphy’s Law, well, its tidy aphorism is cheekily born out here. Someone must have said the forbidden word, “Macbeth” backstage, because the Cornley Drama Society proceeds to offer up a shining example of the ineptest group of actors to ever tread the boards.
In trying to stage “The Murder at Haversham Manor”, this cockeyed amateur troupe shows that the play’s the thing – until it isn’t. Pratfalls, mishaps, blown cues and botched exits abound, dead bodies won’t stay dead and malapropisms are the order of the day, all done with a straight face and a stiff upper lip. That we, the audience, are in on the farcical nonsense, is the clever conceit.
It is the night of the engagement party of Florence Colleymore (Suzy Alden) to Charles Haversham (Andy Izquierdo) who has been found murdered. When Inspector Carter (Adam R. Adkins) arrives at the manor to interrogate the estate’s fashionable guests, he doesn’t know whether to point the finger at Florence the seductress; her supercilious brother Thomas (Justin Beland); Charles’ cuckolding brother Cecil (Cameron McBride); Perkins the bumbling Butler (William Wheat); or Arthur the absent gardener (Cameron McBride) But it hardly matters in this whodunnit. With all the mayhem and mischief, everyone is under the microscope.
The only ones who remain relatively unscathed from accusation in this twisted mystery are Trevor Watson (Jermaine Mitchell), the Lighting and Sound Operator and Duran Duran fanboy, whose miscues and mishaps add to the cast’s confusion, and the Stage Manager (Sydné Marie Chesson) who tickles the audience when both of them wind up on stage to fill in for cast members who have been knocked unconscious by falling portraits or hidden behind secret revolving doors and the fourth wall is irretrievably open for business.
If you’ve ever acted in or staged a production, you’ll commiserate with props that aren’t where they’re supposed to be, actors who are self-absorbed hams, sets that fall apart, and doors that won’t open. Especially funny are the ongoing, dueling divas’ scenes when Florence revives from an accident only to discover her role has been taken over by the totally inept, Stage Manager, who becomes feverishly attached to Florence’s femme fatale role.
Highly recommended!!! This excellent cast nails their upper crust British accents in a hugely physical comedy that gallops along at lightning speed. It’s a rollicking goofball sendup that’s guaranteed to keep you guffawing long after you’ve left your seat.
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields; Directed by Frank D. Shutts II; Set Design by Dan Diesz and Dan Remmers; Lighting and Special Effects by Ken and Patti Crowley; Costume Design by Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley; Fight Director Ian Claar; Dialect Coach Carol Strachan; Sound Design by Alan Wray.
Through June 28th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information call the box office at 703.683.0496 or visit thelittletheatre.com.
SEE ALSO: Arnold Schwarzenegger to Headline Mount Vernon’s July 4 Naturalization Ceremony
