The Play That Goes Wrong UK Tour 2022 Review

Written by Emmie

Mischief Theatre is undoubtedly the master of comedy theatre. Having established themselves with many sold-out performances, a TV appearance over Christmas, and a huge success here and overseas, Mischief Theatre is the must-see company in the theatre for audiences of all ages. Since 2012, The Play That Goes Wrong has led the way for this highly favored company. Not only in its tenth year in London, but this production has had global success under its helm too. Now Mischief is bringing uproarious entertainment on its fifth successful UK and Ireland tour.

The production begins from the moment you arrive in the auditorium, where the backstage staff are performing last-minute adjustments to the set and getting ready for the production of their new 1920s murder mystery to get underway. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are not as polished as the title of the production would suspect, so don't expect their performance to run smoothly.

The Play That Goes Wrong involves some mishaps including cast injury, a bit of pantomime heckling, a missing dog, and some props that don't want to play ball. However, this committed drama society will do everything in its power to reach the final curtain call in one piece. This is not the first time I have seen this production and the level of energy and execution still remains as great as before. There is a really fresh atmosphere in this new company and there is some insertion of new ideas that blend into this familiar script.

This play has an incredible force behind it. It suits everyone's humor levels, of course, some more than others, but this is what makes Mischief Theatre's work so identifiable. The comedic style used is very much slapstick orientated and very easy to follow. It is a very entertaining watch, even the moments of silence whilst you wait for the next punchline make a huge impact on the audience. The transitions between the various scenes are perfectly executed in the pursuit of solving the murder. Teamwork is key for this production to be able to move through this script and battle with all of the different complications coming into play that make it unforgettable for audiences who come back and again to see this company thrive at what they do best, making people laugh!

The small cast has a lot of responsibility on their shoulders with The Play That Goes Wrong but they demonstrate Mischief Theatre's award-winning reputation. The small cast of accident-prone but undoubtedly amateur performers conquers all of the odds to reach the curtain call in one piece. Colin Burnicle, Edi De Melo, Damien James, Beth Lilly, Aisha Numah, Gabriel Paul, Steven Rostance, Kazeem Tosin Amore breathe new life and excitement into this well-known production. Their level of energy each matched up perfectly with one another, resulting in spectacular style. Burnicle really leads a lot of the way as Chris who contributes to the murder mystery as the inspector. Burnicle is hilarious and seems perfectly in tune with this character. He has a natural ability to command the audience immediately, whilst also maintaining sarcasm and wit that makes him stand above the rest. There was not a character out of place and the audience completely absorbed their different characteristics completely. I would see it again for this cast alone, they are superb!

Once you see Mischief Theatre for the first time, I can assure you you will catch the bug and want to see it again and again! Still uproariously funny after all of this time and is now a staple in the comedy theatre scene! Rightly so!

The Play That Goes Wrong is currently embarking on a UK & Ireland Tour as well as performing in London. Further information, including how to book your tickets is available here