One of the things that makes live theatre exciting is that it is being created in the moment it is being viewed, and sometimes things do not go as planned. I have been on stage when unexpected things happen—like when I was out of position and hit on the head with a drop flying in for a set change, or the time a piece of a set caught on the vest of an actor running offstage and fell over. I’ve even been on stage when a small fire broke out. Actors forget lines, or skip pages of dialogue. Things sometimes just don’t go as planned.
In “The Play That Goes Wrong” by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, Murphy’s Law seems perpetually in effect with marvelously hilarious results. The show is all about an amateur theatre company putting on a murder mystery where everything seems to go…well…you’ve read the title. This is farce at its best, and the ensemble of performers at San Jose Stage Company wring out every drop of funny in the script. It has been a long, long time since I have sat in a theatre and laughed until it hurts. I offer my sincere thanks to the cast, crew, and company for giving me that gift last night.
The entire cast is wonderful in this piece, which makes it difficult to mention only a couple of standouts. Jonathan Rhys Williams is terrific as Chris, the director and lead actor of the” Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society” play within the play. He’s captain of this ship, and hilariously struggles to keep his hands on the wheel as it sinks further into the depths of the sea. Maggie Mason is wonderful as Sandra, as is Vivienne Truong as a techie and Sandra’s “understudy.” I’ve seen Johnny Moreno (Jonathan) and Keith Pinto (Dennis) several times on Bay Area stages, and I’m wondering if either of these gentlemen can turn in a less than stellar performance.
Kenneth Kelleher directs this piece of organized chaos and mayhem to absolute perfection. Robert Pickering’s set is marvelous, and is well lit by Maurice Vercoutere’s lighting design. The costumes designed by Ashley Garlick are lovely and work well.
Looking back at everything I’ve just written, I should delete it all and just write the following: Go. Just go. Wherever you are in the Bay Area, make your way to San Jose Stage Company to see “The Play That Goes Wrong.” You can’t go wrong with this one.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” continues through December 17th at San Jose Stage Company. For more information, click here.
Rating: **** (For an explanation of Theatrestorm’s rating scale, click here.)
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“The Play That Goes Wrong” Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. Produced by San Jose Stage Company. Director: Kenneth Kelleher. Scenic Designer: Robert Pickering. Costume Designer: Ashley Garlick. Lighting Designer: Maurice Vercoutere. Sound Designer: Steve Schoenbeck. Properties Designer: Jenn Trampenau. Fight Choreographer: Michael Storm. Dialect Coach: Kimberly Mohne Hill
Cast: Annie: Vivienne Truong. Trevor: Nick Mandrachia. Chris/Inspector Carter: Jonathan Rhys Williams. Jonathan/Charles Haversham: Johnny Moreno. Robert/Thomas Colleymore: Will Springhorn Jr. Dennis/Perkins: Keith Pinto. Max/Arthur The Gardener: Sean Okuniewicz. Sandra / Florence Colleymore: Maggie Mason.
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