Guffaw. Chuckle. Chortle. Cackle. Giggle. How many words describe the different ways we laugh? The Play That Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, now in performance at Oregon Contemporary Theatre, will find you exploring laughter in all these different ways. From the “director” Chris’s (played by Russell Dyball) opening “curtain speech” to the final gasping “deaths,” you will find yourself from tee-heeing to outright roaring with laughter.
Humor thrives on the unexpected. Whether through physical antics or verbal wit, when a situation defies our expectations, laughter is the response. It’s the blend of surprise, recognition, and the playful exaggeration of reality that makes comedy so appealing. Slapstick humor or over-the-top mimicking of behavior evokes laughter by taking what we know to an extreme level. Timing, facial expressions, and physical gestures all play significant roles in amplifying humor, whether through well-timed pauses, funny facial expressions, or physical comedy.
Directed by John Schmor and staged at Eugene’s Oregon Contemporary Theatre, The Play That Goes Wrong embodies every principle of comedy, taking the audience on a hilariously chaotic journey. It is the opening night of the Cornley Drama Society’s production of The Murder at Haversham Manor, and from the very start everything falls apart. Literally. The “actors” valiantly try to keep the play going — as the show must go on, after all — by saying “yes, and” to every compiling mishap. The plot of the play within the play is oddly quite similar to, yes, The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, currently playing at The Very Little Theatre. The plot of the murder mystery itself is irrelevant though, as the series of disasters that unfold is the nightmare of every actor who has ever stepped onstage.
Much of the production’s success lies in its brilliant cast, whose comedic timing is nothing short of masterful. Schmor has assembled a troupe of clowns who make the most out of every mishap. Russell Dyball as the director of the play within the play and the “Inspector”, gives a performance of nuance and steadiness that sets up the comedic shenanigans of the rest of the cast (and he’s funny, too). Andrew Beck as Robert and Thomas Colleymoore is perfectly bombastic as the leading man who is seemingly determined to ignore the chaos around him. Newcomer Josh Simpson is sure to win over audiences as Max and Cecil Haversham as he hams it up. Katie Worley Beck is simply delightful as Sandra and Florence Colleymoore. Ethan Harmon, Chauncey Mauney, Phoebe Thompson, and David Arnold round out the cast with outstanding performances. There is not a weak point in this cast.
The physical comedy and fight choreography by Kevin Inoye is so complex that real audiences will find themselves both laughing and gasping with worry for the safety of this poor cast. And what’s more funny than a little schadenfreude in watching fictional actors suffer through every performer’s nightmare?
Of course, no farce is complete without excellent technical support, and The Play That Goes Wrong excels in this area, too. Amy Dunn certainly had her hands full with this complex set. Creating a set that can fall apart on cue has got to be epitome of difficulty for a set designer. The lighting, sound, and costumes are professionally executed, serving as perfect backdrops for the unfolding disaster.
In the end, The Play That Goes Wrong is a celebration of the unexpected. It taps into a universal truth: things rarely go as planned, but humor arises in how we deal with those moments. Through physical comedy, impeccable timing, and a cast that fully embraces the chaos, the play manages to make disaster an art form. It’s a must-see for anyone who enjoys a good laugh.
So first go see The Mousetrap at Very Little Theatre, but buy your tickets right away for The Play That Goes Wrong, as this Oregon Contemporary Theatre production is sure to be another sold-out show.
The Play that Goes Wrong at Oregon Contemporary Theatre
When: Regular evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 19-21, and 26-28, and extended through Oct. 4-5, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 29, and Oct. 5
Where: Oregon Contemporary Theatre, 194 W. Broadway, downtown Eugene.
Tickets: $25, $40, $50 regular admission, $25 for students with valid ID; available online at octheatre.org or through the box office at 541-465-1506 (each ticket has a $4 fee)
