Month: April 2025

Prepare yourself for a riot of laughter with “The Play That Goes Wrong,” a comedic masterpiece that has captivated audiences since its debut in 2012. Penned by the talented trio of Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, this brilliantly chaotic production takes you behind the curtain of a fictional amateur theater company, where a group of well-meaning yet utterly clumsy actors attempt to stage a murder mystery. What could possibly go wrong? Just about everything!

From props that refuse to cooperate to actors getting tangled in ludicrous scenarios, this play serves up an endless parade of comedic calamities that will have you doubled over in laughter. The chemistry among the characters, mixed with impeccable comic timing, draws the audience into a whirlwind of hilarity.

But the real magic goes beyond the actors—the technical elements of this production are nothing short of a hidden treasure! The clever design of malfunctioning sets requires not just creativity but also precision and safety measures to ensure the actors can thrive amidst the chaos. Every fall, every mishap, every moment of pandemonium is baked into the script, making the cast’s ability to keep their composure all the more impressive. It’s a feat that involves a team of technical wizards and skilled carpenters who breathe life into their wildest ideas.

One standout moment involves the clever use of a window, which becomes the comedic centerpiece when one of the actresses unexpectedly gets knocked unconscious mid-show. With her character unable to exit the stage, the entire cast (and crew!) finds themselves in a hilarious scramble to figure out how to remove her from the spotlight. Cue the antics!

Speaking of the crew, they aren’t just behind-the-scenes heroes; they’re an integral part of the performance! Audiences delight in watching these four crew members navigate the chaos on and off stage, working tirelessly to fix every misstep. With each show, you never quite know what surprises might unfold!

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is more than just a comedy; it’s a jubilant celebration of the theater itself, reminding us that sometimes, a well-executed disaster can outshine a flawless performance. Whether you’re a theater aficionado or simply someone in need of a good laugh, this play delivers a heartwarming experience that revels in the beauty of imperfection. With its unmatched wit and charm, it’s no surprise that “The Play That Goes Wrong” has become a cherished staple on stages around the world. Get ready for a night of uproarious fun!

Let’s set the stage for ASPI’s upcoming production, The Play That Goes Wrong!

After benefitting from a large and sudden inheritance, the inept and accident-prone Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society embark on producing an ambitious 1920s murder mystery, ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’. The production begins before the curtain has even been raised. With the audience present while the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society prepares to stage their new production, props start to disappear, actors go missing, and the set begins to collapse around, and often on, the cast. Mayhem ensues!

To bring this comedic chaos to the stage, a great deal of time, engineering, and experimentation was necessary for ASPI’s tech team! The humor of the show is that the cast bravely present the story almost oblivious to the technical failures, while the audience is wondering what will go wrong next and how will the cast improvise amidst those challenges. 

There are many set “failures” that are written into the script to propel the story! Many of these technical failures are what we would call stunts, gags, or tricks. In order for these stunts to be executed safely for both the cast and crew, it required creative thinking and engineering! 

The most engineered trick is a falling second floor level! At one point in the show, two cast members are on a second floor platform that is four feet off of the stage level. The support for this platform is inadvertently (on purpose) kicked out and the platform is to fall in a series of inclines while the actors soldier on. This amounts to a very serious engineering feat that requires equipment and design to execute safely. In this instance,  David Jolly (Tech Director) chose pneumatic support of the platform. This provides the necessary support while exhibiting a bouncy, unpredictable visual as it is allowed to fall to increasingly steep angles.  Anchoring this platform so that it is appropriately supported was a very difficult proposition!

Another trick that needed planning to execute was items “falling” off the walls. This was not an easy trick considering that many items fall off the walls in unison and some are replaced only to fall off again. If this wasn’t enough of a challenge, the walls that hold these items eventually fall themselves!

As an audience member, you will be able to see the ASPI backstage crew on stage throughout the performance. The crew is actually cast in the show to participate and execute the stunts in full view of the audience.

Many thanks go to David Jolly and Cyndee Sweetland for their set design, Cyndee and her A team (painting crew) who provided the rich colors and visual interest in creating the look of Haversham manor, and to David Jolly, Vince Baudry, and Al Steeno for building the set and gags! Also many thanks to all who assisted with props!

Any audience members that are intrigued and would like to learn more about the execution of the engineering and students in The Play That Goes Wrong are encouraged to reach out to a cast member, staff member, or David Jolly after the performance for a tour and further explanation.  

Tickets are on sale NOW! Showtimes for The Play That Goes Wrong are 7pm on May 8-10 and May 15-17 and 1pm on May 11 and May 18. Don’t miss the hijinks in this truly unique ASPI production.