In an Herculean effort, the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society
moved its current play Murder at Haversham Manor to the Duchess Theatre,
London. Aspiring actors take the stage in storm in a play that unlike previous
performances by the Cornely Drama Society does not require cast adjustments due
to numbers. Last summer's hit Cat followed by Christmas production Snow
White and the Tall Broad Gentleman have established Cornley Drama Society
as the foremost acting society that now takes the West End. The murder play
draws on multiple skills of all actors and offers a fast-paced crime story. The
surprising ending of the play is not in the slightest discernible in advance
and so takes the audiences completely by surprise.
Mischief Theatre's production The Play that goes Wrong is
now presented at Duchess Theatre in the London West End. Winner of the 2014
Whatsonstage Best Comedy Award and Olivier Award Best New Comedy 2015, the show of
fictional Cornley Polytechnic
Drama Society and its thespian aspirations is a fast paced and well constructed
mix of physical comedy and word plays. The witty plot and constant
juxtaposition of word and action or image immediately has the audience laughing
tears. Wittily composed, the text and a highly cluttered visual environment
seem in dialogue throughout the performance. Physical stunts and running gags
surprise one the one hand, but set up expectations on the other hand. As such
the play is woven together through a series of accidents and mishaps.
Well timed action and stunts follow dialogues and lead to a
climactic second act. No option is left unexplored to its potential pitfalls
for actors and at the height of the second part three different Florence
Colleymoores vie for the attention of the audience. The set itself
disintegrates and falls apart in the final crescendo of resolution. Surrounded
by wreckage, the actors engage in a volley of exchanges to round off a
successful production.
The Play that goes wrong is a wonderful entertainment and
performance for all ages. If in need of laughter, do see this play.
PS: Would any audience member who finds a CD Box set of Duran
Duran, please return it to Trevor the technician.
