Arts

Outrageously Wrong

by Jules Becker
Wednesday Nov 14, 2018

The Play That Goes Wrong, Mischief Theatre tour at Emerson Colonial Theatre, through November 18. BroadwayinBoston.com

Sharply timed silliness is not easy. Think of the slapstick of the musical "Spamalot" and the set hijinks and cast romp of the inspired play "Noises Off." Now add a take-off on classic Agatha Christie. The result is the deliberately outrageous but always hilarious "The Play That Goes Wrong," now in a rollicking Broadway in Boston tour at the Emerson Colonial Theatre.

Theatergoers will know right away that slapstick is the delightful order of the day right from the start. The Emerson Colonial marquee upends the play's title, and playbills purposely have the word 'WRONG' in red with the 'G' trailing off lower than the other letters and both the 'G' and the 'S' of 'GOES' split up as if murder victims themselves.

Then a la "Noises Off,'' the cast members are listed with their actor roles on one page of the program and with their characters in the play within-a play "The Murder at Haversham Manor" on another.

"The Murder at Haversham Manor" is billed as a presentation of the fictional Cornley University Drama Society. While the drama society is profoundly inept, the Mischief Theatre tour has the skill and flair of Monty Python regulars.

What follows is a kind of sealed room mystery where anything that can happen will and even technicians get into the act. Early on even an audience member (clearly chosen prior to curtain time) assists with a conveniently troublesome part of designer Nigel Hook smartly detailed mansion set.

Once the body of mansion host Charles Haversham appears, the Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields laugh riot fully lives up to its title. Set pieces fall. The upper set area gradually deteriorates and tilts precariously. Props prove as mysterious as suspects. Actors end up in the wrong places. Some grandstand looking out to the audience for attention as though this is their first time onstage. Even Charles moves.

If the Cornley effort seems helter skelter unprepared, the Mischief ensemble— sharply helmed by tour director Matt DiCarlo after the original Broadway direction of Mark Bell—possesses the disarming disorder of an apparently perfect murder. "The Play That Goes Wrong" may not have the verbal wit of "Noises Off," but audiences need not care (as was the case with the nonstop laughter opening night).

Quite simply, the Mischief Theatre cast has the agility and ardor of a Norman Lloyd or Buster Keaton. Evan Alexander Smith has the proper air of authority as Inspector Carter. Angela Grovey as Cornley actress Annie and Jamie Ann Romero as counterpart Sandra are equal hoots apart and especially together in a standout sequence. Ned Noyes displays impressive versatility as quirky brother Cecil Haversham and enigmatic Arthur the Gardener.

Yaegel T. Welch has the right elusiveness as 'moving' victim Charles. The talented ensemble also features Brandon J.Ellis, Peyton Crim and Scott Cote.

Did the butler do it? Agatha Christie buffs are likely to figure out which of her mysteries this hilarious take-off resembles and the identity of the murderer. Everyone will warm to the production's spirited playfulness. It is no spoiler alert to reveal that "The Play That Goes Wrong" always goes right.