THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG

(Sive Gubangxa, Roberto Pombo, Russel Savadier & Anthony Coleman)

Pieter Toerien’s production of this madcap comedy is delightful chaos up to the last few mind-blowing moments. (Review by Caroline Smart)

In April last year, I reviewed Durban’s KickstArt theatre company’s production of the hilarious comedy, The Play That Goes Wrong. I loved it so much, I went a second time just to relax and enjoy the show.

Last night, I took my sister and a family member to see the Pieter Toerien production at Montecasino and promised that they would have an evening of pure delight. I wasn’t wrong. Their reactions and laughter along with the whole audience’s response proved the value of this madcap comedy that has won every major award on the London stage.

Director Alan Committie has assembled an extremely impressive cast – each giving stand-out and memorable performances. They are Daniel Janks, Russel Savadier, Craig Jackson, Roberto Pombo, Nicole Franco, Louis Viljoen, Anthony Coleman and Sive Gubangxa.

This cast doesn’t just need the acting and comedy talent required to make the most of this hilarious script but also a very high level of physical fitness as the demands are extreme, to say the least!

Created by Scene Visual Productions, the set is a performer in itself. Costing in the region of half a million rand, it has stood the test of time over various seasons in Johannesburg and Cape Town. KickstArt hired it for their Durban production.

The story revolves around The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society which is putting on a 1920s murder mystery, Murder at Haversham Manor - but as the title of the play itself suggests, everything that can go wrong ... does! And the set has a mind of its own!

It’s all there and if you’ve ever worked on stage, whether in amateur or professional productions, this show will certainly stir the memories. It contains every actor’s nightmare. Doors that don’t open, phones that don’t ring when they should, paintings that fall down, floors that tip, a mantelpiece that refuses to stay up, a lift on its last legs and an erratic revolving bookcase. Characters forget their lines or don’t come in on cue … or come in way too early!

To say more would give the surprises away. Enough to say that it’s delightful chaos up to the last few mind-blowing moments.

The Play That Goes Wrong is recommended for ages 8+ and running time is 2 hours 5 minutes including a 20 minute interval.

Remaining performances at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre until January 6, 2019, are Friday at 20h00; Saturday at 16h00 and 20h00 and Sunday at 15h00. Tickets: R240, R200, R150 & R100. Booking is at Computicket – Caroline Smart