New Theatre, Cardiff
Mon 10-Sat 15 Apr
Theatregoers, have you already run the gamut of Agatha Christie plays from A to Z? Have no inclination for the inspector to call again? Been deathtrapped to death? Well, there’s another murder mystery on the block, but it’s a comedy that won’t have you reaching for the smelling salts from overexposureitis.
The Play That Goes Wrong crashes into Cardiff clutching four and five-star reviews and also awards from 2015 – the Olivier for Best New Comedy and BroadwayWorld UK Winner for Best New Play. The plot revolves around fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s staging of Murder At Haversham Manor, where anything calamitous that can befall the group does.
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, The Play That Goes Wrong (a Mischief Theatre production in its third year on the West End) had its humble beginnings in a room above a pub. Mischief Theatre started in 2008, formed by a group of graduates from LAMDA. The play began life as a one-act piece originally titled The Murder Before Christmas at the Old Red Lion, a pub/fringe theatre. Lewis, Sayer, Shields and the rest of the ensemble moved to their second West End home at the Duchess Theatre in 2014 (also incorporating a sold-out UK and international tour). Then the play scooped up the WhatsOnStage Best New Comedy Award.
The writing trio are on a rollicking roll, not only winning a hat-trick of prizes. They and the company have also scored with two more West End hits – Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About A Bank Robbery. In addition to this five-month UK tour, The Play That Goes Wrong is also running in Australia and has been translated and licensed for production in over 20 countries. It’s in previews on Broadway with director/writer J. J. Abrams (of Star Trek and Star Wars fame) as one of the producers, too.
Just judging by Mischief’s cheeky websites, you’re sure to have a jolly time with the young cast of bumbling thespians who not only have numerous theatre credits but also film and TV work under their belts.
Tickets: £10-£32. Info: 029 2087 8889 / www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk
words RHONDA LEE REALI