The Opening Night That Went Right

By Shelby Rodger

To say that Syracuse Stage’s production of the British comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” kept me on my toes is a severe understatement—I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen at any given moment. 

Directed by Syracuse Stage artistic director Robert Hupp and written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, the show follows a troop of actors as they perform in the fictional play “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” It’s full of satire, sarcastic quips, and outlandish plot twists typical of your classic “whodunit.” Even for someone like me who isn’t keen toward 1920s-style slapstick comedy, there were still plenty of other humorous bits that made me laugh.

Before the show started, a couple of “stagehands” were seen trying to fix the mantle of the fireplace that kept falling off in the most dramatic way possible. This bit went on for several minutes, with the two even calling up a bewildered audience member to help them hold it up with painter’s tape (obviously to no avail). The entire time I had no idea if this was part of the show or not—I really thought the mantle actually broke, and my heart started racing. What a mishap to occur during opening weekend! It took me only a few minutes into the actual play to realize how gullible I am for believing their prank.

I was immediately blown away by the set design and its impeccable functionality. I’m still amazed that scenic designer Czerton Lim succeeded in building a set that is meant to be broken, let alone with such brilliance and creativity. There was even a point in the show where the entire elevated platform taking up part of the stage collapsed and slanted, the actors sliding down with it. And of course we can’t forget all the various special effects, including a couple of loud miniature explosions and an elevator that is so broken it flashes, grinds, and spews out smoke. I’m certain there isn’t a single set design Syracuse Stage can’t pull off—every show I attend seems to be more elaborate than the last.

Of course, a play this wacky would be nothing without a strong lineup of actors—preferably ones who aren’t afraid of a little falling furniture here and there.

Jason O’Connell’s performance as the director of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” and the play’s inspector, anchors the show. He welcomed the audience at the start of the night with high energy, keeping our spirits lifted throughout. The first of many laughs he garnered from me was during his opening monologue when he joked there must have been a mix-up at the box office. 

“Yes, surely you all must have bought tickets to Hamilton, but ended up here instead. We thank you for your patience while we work on refunding you.” He continued the farce while greeting us after intermission, saying, “Honestly, I am so delighted to see that so many of you have returned. I’d be lying if I said the first act went entirely as rehearsed.”

Stellar performances from Angie Janas as Florence, the murder mystery’s hysterical ingénue, and Kate Hamill as Annie, the stage manager who is thrust into the show as Florence’s understudy when Florence becomes incapacitated, are highlights of the play. The two are hilarious from start to finish and were easily my favorites of the night. Janas in particular played well into the trope of the helpless and distraught female character akin to an outdated Hollywood movie. (“Oh, Charles! How could he die a week after our engagement!”)

I won’t spoil anything further about “The Play That Goes Wrong”—to find out whodunit, you’ll just have to head down to Syracuse Stage before the show closes on May 1. Make sure not to accidentally click Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” when buying your tickets online.