kicking THINGS OFF: The Play that GOES WRONG

Rating: 8/10

Lights up on a beautifully designed set at the Gainesville Community Playhouse (GCP) and we're immersed in The Murder at Haversham Manor. Or is it The Play that Goes Wrong?

As audience members file in, there are paint cans, ladders, mops, and garbage strewn about the stage, hinting that this will not be your usual night at the theater. Stage hands frantically try to clear the stage as the "stage manager," Annie (played by Andrea Young) tries to contain the chaos before the "director" Chris (played by Esteban Alvarez III) greets the audience and introduces the play within a play. From there, shenanigans abound for the next 2 hours, which I will not delve into for fear of spoiling the fun. 

For the most part, the play provides a fun escape from the daily grind, a stark contrast from GCP's preceding production, Ragtime. Where Ragtime left its audience with a timely message and damp tissues, The Play that Goes Wrong acts as an emotional palate cleanser. The theater is full of laughter and gasps from the audience, but no real story exists to think about after the curtain closes. This show is pure farce and anyone looking for deeper meaning will have to look elsewhere.

The set is an impressive feat of planned failures and things going wrong in all the right ways. While there are some visible seams that run the risk of drawing the audience's attention to gags too early, it's a minor hiccup in an otherwise lovely design. The lighting successfully highlights the set and creates separation between the various "rooms" of Haversham Manor. More than most shows, this production is full of "theater magic," which requires a great deal of vision and technical skill. Kudos to GCP for taking risks and pushing themselves to lofty heights.

The stage isn't the only thing that shines. Each member of the cast plays their part brilliantly. Each actor fully portrays a character trying to push through their murder mystery as though everything wasn't absurdly crumbling before your eyes. Chris Floyd (Cecil Haversham/Max) is particularly hilarious and is responsible for bringing the audience to life on multiple occasions throughout the show. Even when he was not the focal point of the scene, I found myself looking for Mr. Floyd on stage to catch his antics and I recommend that you do, as well.

Overall, the show was an enjoyable night out and provided a welcome distraction from everyday life. All the elements come together to create a fun look into the worst nightmare of every person who has ever done theater.

The Play that Goes Wrong is currently playing at the Gainesville Community Playhouse until June 8th and tickets range from $12 for students to $24 for general public. You can purchase your tickets at GCPlayhouse.org