The Play That Goes Wrong – ASB Waterfront Theatre (13th Floor Theatre Review)
Could you do with a laugh? When you look at the state of the world today – Ukraine, tariffs, inflation, Gaza, homelessness, unemployment, the ‘C’ word – it’s almost certain you could use some light relief. The Play That Goes Wrong is guaranteed to break the gloom just as it has done for the past 10 years in London and every continent, except Antarctica.
The show can be described as a good old-fashioned British farce with its comedy roots stemming from a great tradition of being able to laugh at oneself.
Before you even get into the theatre the commotion starts as some people dressed in black, wearing earpieces and carrying clipboards burst through the queues looking for a lost dog.
“There’s some small people, they’ll do as a substitute,” one of them yells pointing at a couple of confused-looking kids waiting in line.
“Winston!” another calls out looking for the errant canine.
And then they’re gone, disappearing just as quickly as they came with a few quizzical looks left in their wake.
Next a rather dapper man with a red velvet bow-tie and a too-large moustache angles his way through the throng greeting people and thanking them for coming along. We later learn that this is Chris (Jonathan Martin), the President of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society on his directorial debut.
As we take our seats there’s still some last minute adjustments being made to the set. Some of those looking for Winston are on stage fixing things up, with little success.
The fun has already started, we quickly learn, as some simple slapstick humor warms up the audience, a few chuckles rippling around the theatre.
Chris is back to introduce his play, a murder mystery set in the 1920s at an English country manor house, and a list of unfortunate events that requires some apologies in advance and some detailed explanation.
It all seems a bit amateurish and awkward. But that’s the point.
As the performance unfolds the hapless cast are beset with problems with forgotten lines, personal injury, set malfunctions and personal battles on stage. As each scenario develops, another complication manifests creating layers that ultimately break into a crescendo of trouble and laughter.
The acting and timing are spot-on, delivering punchlines that you can see coming a mile off but are hilarious nonetheless. The writing and design are key to this show and it’s easy to see why it’s been a best seller in London’s West End picking up an Olivier Award and Whatsonstage Award along the way.
Some may criticise the humour as being unsophisticated and too simple, but we’ve been laughing at this stuff for years: The Marx Brothers, Laurel and Hardy, Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, John Cleese and even our very own Tom Sainsbury have brought the laughs with very similar stuff.
The ASB Theatre on Auckland’s waterfront once again displays what a great venue it is – intimate enough to feel close to the action and big enough to warrant such a production. And the feel of the place is comfortable and modern with ease of access around the building.
If you’re feeling just a little down in the dumps, tear yourself away from the doomscrolling and go see The Play That Goes Wrong.
You’ll laugh all the way home.
Alex Roberson
The Play That Goes Wrong is on at the ASB Waterfront Theatre until June 1. Tickets available from www.atc.co.nz
