Review of The Play That Goes Wrong at Milton Keynes Theatre

First established in 2008, Mischief Theatre continues to build and build its strength in theatre (and beyond) and packs audiences around the world with both this original full-length play, The Play That Goes Wrong, and the group's numerous other projects. However, from first being performed above a pub in 2013 to now, how much impact does this chaotic show bring to theatres now?

There has been a murder at Havensham Grange, however, the dead body seems unerringly lively, so is this just one part of the clues for the story ahead, or just the ongoing incompetence of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society with their productions? Only time, collapsing sets, fluffed lines and the dogged (dodgy?) detective work of Inspector Carter will tell.

A brief reviewer's note and declaration, I am an immense fan of Mischief Theatre, and this production of The Play That Goes Wrong was my fifth time seeing the show. Previously seen in Northampton and London, this was my first time seeing the play at Milton Keynes Theatre, and much like when I saw the show on the Derngate stage, the set of The Play That Goes Wrong doesn’t sit with quite the ease on this larger stage as where I first saw the production, in traditional vintage theatres.

Looking beyond this though, The Play That Goes Wrong continues to show the skill and comedy that Mischief brings to the stage. The more you see the show, the humour gets diluted, and for me, the predictability of knowing what is coming next takes that first initial impact from you. However, to any new audience members, the events of the show as they spiral and spiral more out of control will still thrill, as much as they increasingly frustrate the director of the show Chris Bean played by Colin Burnicle, who plays the play character of Inspector Carter in the play within the play. Hope you get that!

Burnicle heads the cast and continues the long influence of being on edge of breaking down in the role of Bean. His tirade at the audience member who unhelpfully chipped in some unwanted information was fabulous and you feel his pain as the play collapses slowly but predictably into anarchy.

The cast is great throughout with special mentions for Beth Lilly as Annie Twilloil who charms throughout as the put-upon stage manager who gets her chance to shine later in the show. Gabriel Paul is super cool as lighting and sound operator Trevor.

Kazeem Tosin Amore is suave and sophisticated as Robert Grove and has huge dexterity to deal with the rigours of the positions the play puts upon him. Finally, of mention is Steven Rostance as Jonathan who is brilliantly funny as the dead character of Charles Haversham.

The extra cast member of the set itself (designed ingeniously by Nigel Hook) sparkles throughout with its destructive force and own built-in comic timing.

The Play That Goes Wrong written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields continues to entertain and thrill audiences all over the world and in this fourth UK tour, it does just that again. If you have yet to experience the perils of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, you best get a ticket to see it now.

As brilliantly staged and comic as always, the riotous Mischief gang march on.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Performance reviewed: Monday 25th July 2022 at the Milton Keynes Theatre, Milton Keynes.

The Play That Goes Wrong runs at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 30th July 2022.

For further details about Milton Keynes see their website at http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/milton-keynes-theatre/

Production photos: Robert Day

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