The Lowry Theatre, Manchester – until 22 August 2021
Reviewed by Wendy Albiston
5*****
A Masterpiece of Magical Mishaps and Mayhem
What an absolute joy to be going to an actual theatre to sit in an actual audience to watch an actual play. The Lowry Theatre seemed relaxed in their return to welcoming back audiences. A few signs around the place recommending mask wearing and the now normal bottles of hand sanitizer dotted about helped reassure that our safety was still a concern.
I had heard great things about this show, so my expectations were high, and they weren’t disappointed.
Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are putting on a Murder Mystery entitled “Murder At Haversham Manor”. Born from the inflated ego of Chris Bean, the director/designer/prop maker/box office manager/actor/voice coach etc., this play within a play ramps up the horror of the typical actor’s nightmare of not knowing your lines and not knowing what play you’re in, a hundred-fold. If it can go wrong, it does. Someone must have said the name of The Scottish Play many times backstage for things to go this badly!
Winces, gasps, squeals and laughter are constantly expelled from the audience as the hapless characters do their very best to get though the play, come hell or high water. And they do succeed in that, despite everything literally falling around them.
Hats of to the sterling talent and skill of the actors of Mischief. They are an ensemble of fantastic physical performers with spot on comedic timing and boundless energy. It’s a joy to see them working together to create this world of perfectly choreographed madness and mayhem.
A mention must go to the set designer Nigel Cook, for skillfully crafting the health and safety nightmare into a dreamy piece of theatrical engineering. It’s astounding!
This is a family show, it’s hilarious, silly and the perfect way to ease yourself back into going to the theatre. Oh; if you’re a woman of a certain age, make sure you have a Tena Lady in your bag!