Even Pieter Toerien said that The Play That Goes Wrong, is the funniest play he has ever seen, and after the first run in Johannesburg, a lot of theatregoers will agree with the Theatre Tycoon.

This South African production, directed by Alan Committie, took the box office by storm in March and April this year, and now returns for a four week season from the 22nd September. The return season features the awesome original cast including Russel Savadier, Craig Jackson, Roberto Pombo, Nicole Franco and Sive Gubangxa. New cast members joining the team are Daniel Janks, Richard Lothian and Stephen Jubber.

The Play That Goes Wrong is a celebration of the best of live theatre… and the worst. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

Given 5 stars from The Daily Mail, called a ‘Gut-busting hit’ by the New York Times and with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Ant and Dec ‘funniest show we’ve seen! If you can get a ticket go.’

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter! This will carry on for 2 hours and 5 minutes, and you will even laugh during the 20 minute interval. But the producers recommend a PG 8 rating.

The Play That Goes Wrong

Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre

22 September – 15 October

Wednesdays to Fridays, 8pm

Saturdays, 5pm and 8pm

Sundays, 3pm

Tickets range between R100 and R220.

Bookings through Computicket.

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By Louw Mulder

The scene is set. It is opening night of the Northriding Polytechnic Drama Society’s production of Murder at Haversham Manor. The actors in this play are dedicated, loyal, and also very excited to perform. Everything is ready, the lights go out, the director makes his opening speech, and then everything just goes wrong.

Stomach-spasm laughter is guaranteed for the real theatre audience, who also play a role in this play, witnessing the chaos that unfolds when the play goes wrong. It is a classic murder mystery play, where the inspector has to solve the mystery and find the murderer. The comedy aspect of this play and the sheer enjoyment of watching it, takes all the suspense out of it.

By arrangement with Goes Right Ltd, Pieter Toerien Productions presents this Mischief Theatre Production of The Play That Goes Wrong, which was written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields.

It is seldom that I emphasise the direction of a play, but with The Play That Goes Wrong, the hand of Alan Committie was hilariously evident. It is very tricky to perfect things that go wrong. It is very difficult to master the idea of everything to go intentionally wrong. In this play, everything goes wrong, and to direct a play in such a way where organised chaos is executed so well, shows class, talent, and skill.

The same can almost be said about the actors who have to get everything right, to get everything to go wrong. The best thing about this play, is that should an actor make a real mistake on stage, it can be seen as just another thing going wrong within the play, which makes the mistake, not a mistake.

The cast consist of Russel Savadier, Theo Landy, Nicole Franco, Sive Gubangxa Louis Viljoen, Roberto Pombo, and recently seen in Sherlock Holmes, Robert Fridjohn and Craig Jackson. The highlight of the show for me personally, comes from Craig Jackson. The success of his performance is mostly attributed by the nature of his character, but the talent of Jackson is entertainingly fitting to his role, as the amateur actor. As an ensemble, the casts works perfectly. There is a sense of enjoyment between the members of this cast, and their love for this production shows in their performance.

Sitting here, I am quietly giggling again when I think about some of the scenes. But how then do I write a fitting review about all of that. I just can’t. But I can urge everyone who loves theatre to go see this show. It runs at the Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre until 30 April, before it moves to Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town from 3 May 2017.

In the words of Committie: “There is a particular beauty to physical comedy. When performed accurately and with care it really is an art form that takes us back to the glory years of the greatest visual comics.”

This review is edited by Bronwyn Kerry.  Photos by Christiaan Kotze

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In the words of Pieter Toerien – “The Play that Goes Wrong is the Funniest play I have ever seen!”

Joanna Lumley came out a recent London performance and said: “We laughed until the tears ran down our faces! It has to be seen!!!”

What’s on Stage said “It’s as though The Mousetrap has been taken over by Monty Python!”

Described by theatre audiences as Fawlty Towers meets Noises Off – this new hit comedy has won every major award on the London stage – 2015 Olivier Award Winner for Best New Comedy/ 2015 BroadwayWorld UK Winner for Best New Play/ 2014 WhatsOnStage Award Winner for Best New Comedy! The South African production will be directed by Alan Committie and features an awesome comedy cast including Robert Fridjhon, Russel Savadier, Craig Jackson, Roberto Pombo, Nicole Franco, Louis Viljoen and Sive Gubangxa.

The Play That Goes Wrong is a celebration of the best of live theatre… and the worst. The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society is putting on a 1920s murder mystery, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong… does! The accident-prone thespians battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences!

Given 5 stars from The Daily Mail, called a ‘Gut-busting hit’ by the New York Times and with celebrity endorsements from the likes of Ant and Dec ‘funniest show we’ve seen! If you can get a ticket go.’

The Play That Goes Wrong is guaranteed to leave you aching with laughter!  The show’s running time is 2 hours, 5 minutes, including a 20 minute interval.  The recommended Age is older than 8 years old.

South African audiences will be treated to the award-winning Comedy from 24 March in Jo’Burg and 3 May in Cape Town.

Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre

24 March – 30 April

Performances: Wed – Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 5pm & 8pm, Sun @ 3pm

Tickets: R220, R180, R130 & R100

Theatre on the Bay

3 May – 17 June

Performances: Tue – Fri @ 8pm, Sat @ 4pm & 8pm

Tickets: R220, R180 & R120

Picture of the original UK cast by Alastair Muir.

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