The Play That Goes Wrong, the West End’s Olivier Award winning box office hit, is back in Cardiff – where the original tour began in 2014 – and again it’s glorious, chaotic fun!
The play introduces The ‘Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’ who are attempting to put on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong does.
Opening at the New Theatre tonight (Tuesday April 30), the tone is set by faulty scenery and incompetent stage hands. Once the actors take to the stage, it just goes from bad to worse – and the murder mystery rapidly descends into hilarious comedy.
The performances are brilliant – it’s not easy to look so bad! The cast demonstrate split-second timing and sometimes daring physical feats to deliver a never-ending stream of laughs.
Winning 11 international awards, including the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and a 2017 Tony Award for its Broadway transfer, The Play That Goes Wrong continues to play to sold-out houses in the West End, while enjoying its new status as Broadway’s longest running play.
It’s a real treat to have this hilarious play in town again, and it is running all week until Saturday.
Co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, The Play That Goes Wrong boasts a talented cast including Jake Curran (Chris), Catherine Dryden (Annie), Bobby Hirston (Max), Benjamin McMahon (Dennis), Gabriel Paul (Trevor), Steven Rostance (Jonathan), Kazeem Tosin Amore (Robert), Elena Valentine (Sandra) with David Kristopher-Brown (Understudy), Laura White (Understudy), Liam Horrigan (Understudy) and Louisa Sexton (Understudy).
It is directed by Mark Bell, with set designs by Nigel Hook, lighting by Ric Mountjoy and costumes by Roberto Surace, and is produced by Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd.
The Play That Goes Wrong runs until Saturday (5 May), with an Audio Described performance on 5 May at 2.30pm. Tickets are available from the box office on (029) 2087 8889 and www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk.
Review by Ruth Simons