Center Theatre Players look for laughs with 'The Play That Goes Wrong'

ROCHESTER — The Center Theatre Players will present “The Play That Goes Wrong” in Rochester, opening Thursday with the intention of audience-wide, side-splitting laughter.

The 2012 play by Henry Lewis, which won Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards, will serve as the troupe’s spring performance. Although the Center Theatre Players typically offer Broadway-style musical performances, director Sandy Reigel chose this British comedy for its carefully timed and choreographed mishaps.

In no small words, Reigel calls it “…the funniest play that I have ever seen.”

She explained, “’The Play That Goes Wrong’ is about this troupe of actors who are putting on a murder mystery. ‘The Murder at Haversham Manor’ is the title of their play within a play. They are trying to put this show on, but everything goes wrong, hence the title of the play. The British humor touches upon those who have acted, directed, or seen a show − lines go wrong, set pieces fall and break, incorrect entrances and sound effect timing and other physical aspects. The stage itself, visible stage crew, and cast of eight are all among the actors who persist through comedic peril to solve the whodunit; however, the plot of the play’s murder mystery eventually becomes almost secondary to the hilarity on stage."

In order to ensure safety on the set and the best possible comedic timing, Reigel relied both on her decades of theater expertise and the help of social media groups who had put on this play before. As set pieces intentionally malfunction and the cast must stand aloft on platforms that fall on purpose, those experienced in the production can offer technical advice.

“As one actor in the play puts it, ‘This set is a death trap!’ Reigel said with a laugh. "We’re doing plenty of technical rehearsals to ensure everything is in order, but you know it’s a lot when there is a Facebook support group for anyone who is putting on the show.”

Because this type of play is a unique offering from Center Theatre’s normal programming, “The Play That Goes Wrong” attracted new talent to its roster. Four new cast members have been involved in theater shows in the Pittsburgh area, and four cast members are longtime mainstays of the company.

“Some don’t want to participate in musicals, but when they learned we were doing this show, they wanted to come here and audition for it,” Reigel said.

Cast members include Tom Bickert (Ellwood City), Eric Molina (Canonsburg), Max Levine (Beaver Falls), Ted Froats (Pittsburgh), Jenn Rian (Aliquippa), Ryan Wagner (Wexford), John Zuemie (Cranberry Township), and Sara Froats (Pittsburgh). Stage crew members who also appear in the play are Alex Andres (Beaver), Ashley Crook (Monaca), Liz Damp (Beaver), Sara Deppenbrook (Beaver Falls), Leah Flick (Beaver Falls), Adrianna Gradisek (Center Township), Dan Patsch (Rochester), and Matt Torres (Hopewell Township).

The troupe’s first complete season with quarterly performances took place in 2022, although it was originally planned for 2020. This year’s summer production will be the musical “Urinetown” from July 19-22, and the fall production will be “Little Shop of Horrors” from Oct. 19-21. Two special fundraiser revues also will line the schedule; on May 20, a “Miscast Cabaret” show will feature singers performing songs not intended originally for their style, and on August 26 a “Lordy, Lordy, Look Who’s 40!” show will celebrate the longevity of the Center Theatre Players.

The fundraisers will not only fund future shows but will eventually serve to replace the seats in the Rochester theater venue which now bears Reigel’s name.

Before the Center Theatre Players cross off the remainder of the calendar year, however, Reigel is especially looking forward to presenting “The Play That Goes Wrong."

She concluded, “I tell everybody to bring tissues, because you’re going to cry from laughing so much. Don’t blame me if your stomach hurts, because you’re going to be doubled over in laughter.”

If you go

"The Play That Goes Wrong"

Where: Sandy Reigel Theater, Rochester Borough complex, 350 Adams St.

When: 7:30 p.m. April 20-22

Tickets: $17 showclix.com/event/wrong-play  or 724-888-7054, or centertheatreplayers.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Center Theatre Players seek laughs with 'The Play That Goes Wrong'