File this one under “Things I won’t have to work very hard to convince you to see:” The Play That Goes Wrong, now playing at the Oriental Theatre, is an incredibly fun, incredibly madcap play-within-a-play that’ll have you gasping with laughter. Okie doke. Need more?
8 reasons to see The Play That Goes Wrong, stat:
(I almost listed them out of order, a la A Review That Goes Wrong…but decided to give your brain a little rest today. You’re welcome.)
8
Who doesn’t love a good 1920s murder mystery? (And the Cornley University Drama Society will insist that The Murder at Haversham Manor, indeed, is a very good show. At least they hope so. At least they have enough cast members for this one.)
7
The dialogue and physicality of this Tony Award-winning production are exactly what you’d expect if ‘Clue‘ met Agatha Christie at a party- and promptly got knocked into the buffet by the cast of Monty Python.
6
Anyone who’s ever worked on a theatrical production of any sort will immediately (and viscerally) recognize the throat-clutching panic of something going horridly wrong onstage.
5
That said, piling panic after panic after panic for a continuous barrage of things going wrong during that same show? Unbelievable levels of hilarity. (Seriously, everything goes wrong. The leading lady is unconscious, the “corpse” won’t stay dead, and reluctant stage crew members are forced to become parts of the ever-crumbling scenery. Knowing it’s not your show crumbling? Keep the laughter flowing freely, friends.)
(Photo credit: Jeremy Daniel)
4
Oh my God, that set. That poor, poor- exceptionally impressive- set.
3
The cast is fantastic. Standouts include Angela Grovey’s overwhelmed stage manager, Evan Alexander Smith’s earnest- and increasingly bewildered- Artistic Director, and Peyton Crim as a frustrated actor who’s hit the wall; mentally and, sadly, physically. But really, they’re all amazing. Each character grows (and crumbles) throughout the production to the point where the audience will want to send flowers (or whiskey) backstage to the Cornley University Drama Society by the curtain call.
2
This is definitely one show where you’re going to want to read the Playbill. Trust me. It’s marvelous. That’s all I’ll say.
1
It leaves Chicago on Sunday, December 16th. You still have time to see this breathless comedy, friends, so run to get your tickets. (But be careful once you’re there. And watch your step. Anything can happen in the theatre.)
At the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago
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