One thing about me, if a play is going wrong, I’m going to be there (in the audience).
In short, I love this show, and I’m so glad Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre is presenting it in all its chaotic and dramatic glory this summer. It’s one of those feel-good comedy plays that’s full of drama, farce, slapstick and absurdist humor and, of course, choreographed mishaps. This is the second time I’ve seen this show here in Indianapolis, but I promise, no matter how many times you see it, it’s never the same show twice.
Directed by Brett Mutter, “The Play that Goes Wrong” is onstage at Beef and Boards now through Aug 23.
Originally written and produced for the stage by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields in 2012, “The Play That Goes Wrong” debuted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in April 2017. The plot follows the Cornley University Drama Society as they struggle through opening night of “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” However, the production doesn’t exactly go according to plan, as the 1920s whodunnit seems to be more than the “cast” and “stage crew” can handle as a small, amateur theater troupe.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” is arguably 90% physical comedy, from having to be flexible enough — literally — to work around collapsing sets and dysfunctional props, to carefully choreographed fight scenes, numerous spit takes, actor switcharoos and more. I imagine this production is a workout — not to mention all the rehearsals to make the chaos look effortlessly hilarious on stage.
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If you’re a Beef and Boards season ticket holder, there will be some familiar faces on stage, such as Joey Boos as Max Bennett/Cecil Haversham, Cynthia Collins as Dennis Tyde/Perkins, and Logan Hill as Sandra Wilkinson/Florence Colleymoore. Making their Beef and Boards debut are Nic Nightingale as Chris Bean/Inspector Carter, Topher Embrey as Robert Grove/Thomas Colleymoore, Jesse Bhamra as Jonathan Harris/Charles Haversham and Kevin Toniazzo-Naughton as Trevor Watson.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” where the actors on stage interact with and talk to the audience as much as they did in Beef and Boards’ production. It works for them, though… incredibly well, I might add. Beef and Boards is known for its relaxed, comfortable dinner theater vibe. The aisles are designed for heavy traffic and the intimate space allows for the fourth wall to be absolutely decimated — and what better show than this one?
Without giving too much away, I’ll say that each of the niche little character choices made in this show were spectacular, from the little things, such as facial expressions or line delivery to the very big, bold things such as Embrey traipsing through the aisles in a house robe and sunglasses during intermission to Nightingale directly arguing with audience members mid scene and Boos finding a way to fit an arabesque in there. It’s the unserious kind of fun that engages people beyond just the script, and kudos to the wonderful cast and crew that worked so hard to deliver that sort of candid entertainment.
This show is never not funny, but for me and my guest, who had also seen this show before, we loved being surprised at some of the, well, surprises. This is the kind of show that you’re not really sure where to look when because something chaotic (i.e., Florence being pulled legs-first through a window) is always going on in the background of something else (i.e., Cecil and Inspector Carter explaining an alibi to an elaborately choreographed contemporary dance number.) Not to mention, a member of the “stage crew” — Nathalie Cruz, Jaddy Ciucci, Hannah Elizabeth Boswell or Toniazzo-Naughton — are almost always running around the aisles, accidentally popping up onstage, or mixing up props and broken set pieces.
To award flowers where flowers are deserved, it takes several brilliant minds and skilled sets of hands to construct such an intricate set designed to fall apart, layered costumes that not only have to move with the actors who are running, jumping, dancing and dodging danger, but also get swapped around, and perfectly styled wigs that get stolen. Haversham Manor and the rest of the incredible scenic design was done by Eric Barker, with costume design by Meghan Warren and wig design by Drew Bryson.
This production was a wild ride from start to finish, and I had a lovely time, as did everyone else hootin’ and hollerin’ with laughter throughout the night.As far as murder mysteries go, “The Murder at Haversham Manor” is fairly easy to solve, provided you don’t get distracted by everything else going wrong.
So, if you’re not busy this week, I’d suggest taking a break from the heat to head up to Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre’s production of “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Relax, and settle in for an evening filled with laughter and chaos — and good food.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” is onstage at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 N.Michigan Road, for 47 performances July 16-Aug. 23. The show is rated PG for mild adult themes, stage violence, gunshots and partial nudity.
For more information, showtimes or to purchase tickets, visit beefandboards.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
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