The Play That Goes Wrong

The show revolves around a Drama Society at a Polytechnic putting on a production called ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’. While this show has been running for ten years, some keen theatre-goers might find the set and plot similar to another long-running show, including the addition of snow outside the window.

The costumes are gorgeous; Roberto Surace (Costume Designer) went all out with these, and there is a striking contrast between the ‘actors’ and the ‘techies.’ Some might say that for a Polytechnic production, the costumes are a little too lavish, but I question whether some of the magic might be lost had they been more budget-conscious.

This is an all-out, multi-level comedy, cracking with slapstick and more! I think the magic of this show lies in how the level of comedy not only builds, but fluctuates throughout. There are moments, like the telephone gag, where I found it ridiculously silly, while other audience members were absolutely hooting with laughter. At other times, Daniel Anthony as Dennis was so naturalistically wooden that I was almost crying, and the blend between these two levels of comedy was seamless. Alex Bird as Jonathan was a crowd favourite, breaking the fourth wall whenever he got a laugh or round of applause, prompting him to repeat these actions.