Hilariously Unfortunate Events Unfold in 'The Play That Goes Wrong'
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A detective (Raymond Wallace, clockwise from left), the best friend (Austin McCann), and the brother (Dorian Hunter) toast The recently deceased man (Will Witt) in the play-within-a-play The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition, during rehearsal Tuesday, Feb. 7. The comedy opens Thursday, Feb. 16, at The Arts & Science Center.
Young Cast Leads High School Edition of Comedy, Opening Feb. 16
Things are about to get hilariously disastrous on the opening night of Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production.
A play-within-a-play, The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition kicks off The Arts & Science Center’s 2023 theater season. The comedy is slated for performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 16-18, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, in the Catherine M. Bellamy Theater at ASC’s home facility, 701 S. Main St. in Pine Bluff.
Cheryl Kurz, (from left), Austin McCann, and Keiren Minter rehearse a scene from THe Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition on Thursday, Feb. 7, on the Catherine M. Bellamy Theater stage at ASC.
The production is sponsored by Relyance Bank.
Welcome to opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” where things are quickly going from bad to utterly disastrous. This 1920s “whodunit” has everything in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).
Nevertheless, the accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences! Part Monty Python, part Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier Award-winning comedy by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields is a global phenomenon guaranteed to leave audiences aching with laughter.
Longtime ASC theater volunteer Jonathan R. Hoover directs. Hoover has appeared in more than 40 shows at ASC, including recent appearances in Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and You Have the Right to Remain Dead. In addition to acting, he has directed several shows, most recently The Outsiders and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
“This play is a true comedy – a spoof of live theater itself,” says Hoover. “Every stage play that there has ever been, nothing ever goes according to plan. This show is a play within a play, and everything that can go wrong within a theater production does.”
The cast features more than 15 young actors.
“The chemistry between the cast is great,” says Hoover. “These actors are having a really good time with it. The number one thing that slows us down is that everyone is making each other laugh too much.”
The cast features new and returning actors. The stage manager Annie is played by Cheryl Kurz. The director of the play within-a-play is Chris, played by Raymond Wallace. Austin McCann portrays Robert, who is unaware of his surroundings and doesn’t seem to care when things go awry. Keiren Minter plays Dennis, the cast member that just wants to make friends and become more popular. Will Witt plays Jonathan, the show’s driving force who has a lot of fun with it. Max, played by Dorian Hunter, is a theater newcomer who does what he’s told, but has no connection with the other cast members. Aubree Wright plays Sandra, who is known for her vanity and huge ego.
The “stage crew” is also part of the cast. They are Arin Bell, Latailyn Craig, Carleigh Evans, Lily Jennings, Skyler McKinley, Shalese Treadwell, Alice Weeley, and Will Young.
Will Witt, who plays Jonathan, is expecting everyone in the audience to find this play hilarious. “The community is going to enjoy having a good laugh. A little bit of every kind of comedy. If they don’t laugh at one thing, they’ll laugh at another.”
Tickets are $13 for ASC members and seniors, and $18 for nonmembers. BECOME A MEMBER
Tickets may be purchased here, by calling 870-536-3375, or in person.
For more information about the show, contact ASC Theater Programs Manager Lindsey Collins at lcollins@acs701.org or 870-536-3375.
