Hull New Theatre Hull – until 23rd July 2022
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
(Kenny Wax Ltd and Stage Presence Ltd present the Mischief production) The Play That Goes Wrong bounced into Hull New Theatre on Monday night and got a very well-deserved standing ovation for a brilliant, funny show.
From even before the show started, we had the “stage crew” putting the set back together with the help of an audience member, a hunt for a lost dog and the audience asked to look out for missing Duran Duran CD Box Set.
The Play that Goes Wrong is a play within a play. We see Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society present a whodunnit called Murder at Haversham Manor and as their director Chris Bean (Colin Burnicle) explained to the audience it was the first time they had been able to put on a full play due to lack of cast members (Snow White and the Tall Broad Man being one of the previous shows!)
From start to finish we are treated to a masterclass in comic timing, and it would be extremely hard to single out any actor in the show as every performance was just brilliant. From the set (designed by Nigel Hook) which fell apart around the cast (causing sharp intakes of breath from the audience!) forgotten lines, fighting cast members and missing props.
The Play that Goes Wrong is hilarious, full of belly laughs, physical comedy and good old-fashioned slapstick. I have seen a number of Mischief productions and this one is one of the best yet. Long may they continue going wrong!