The nonstop laughter feels right in OKC production of 'The Play That Goes Wrong'

When my husband and I left the Plaza District on a recent Thursday night, my cheekbones were throbbing, and his belly was aching.

There was nothing wrong with us; to the contrary, everything was just right. We were simply suffering the physical consequences of spending two hours laughing nearly nonstop at Lyric Theatre's production of the uproarious farce "The Play That Goes Wrong." 

The slight pains were worth the signficant fun we had seeing the Tony Award-winning title for the first time.

Performances of "The Play That Goes Wrong" continue through April 23 at Lyric's Plaza Theatre. Here's what else you need to know about the Oklahoma City professional premiere of this recent Broadway smash:

1. The show is a play-within-a-play, with a partially fictional program

Billed as a blending of Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python, "The Play That Goes Wrong" chronicles the fictional Cornley University Drama Society's ill-fated and accident-prone attempts to put on a 1920s whodunit titled "The Murder at Haversham Manor."

That means that most members of the Lyric Theatre cast are playing actors who are in turn playing a role —or two — in a British murder mystery.

If that sounds confusing, rest assured that the program includes both the real-life biographies for the cast and crew as well as funny fictional bios for the personnel of the play-within-a-play.

Don't skip over the introductory letter from Cornley University Drama Society President Chris Bean — who is the star, producer, director, costume designer, box office manager, fight choreographer and more for "The Murder at Haversham Manor" — which details the vital role that fiery Indian curry played in spicing up the performances.

2. The play is a love letter to theater, but a teasing one

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, "The Play That Goes Wrong" has been described as a love letter to theater, especially the kind of low-budget community theater where sets are held together with gaffer's tape and fervent prayers and the performers often are inexperienced, overwhelmed or inadequately rehearsed.

But the British import isn't some gushy, romantic love letter: It's the sort of wryly teasing missive that only a longtime lover who knows all your flaws and secrets but adores you anyway could write.

It cheekily pokes fun at the characters and at the institution of theater, but with obvious affection. It's never mean-spirited or snide.

3. The talented actors throw themselves into the pratfalls and slapstick

Director Ashley Wells has assembled a talented local cast, and the actors throw themselves — sometimes literally — into the fast-paced story's many pratfalls and slapstick moments with an unhesitating zeal.

The show actually starts before the proverbial curtain ever goes up, with reluctant lighting and sound operator Trevor Watson (Alexi Smith in his Lyric debut) and overworked stage manager Annie Twilloil (Ashley Mandanas) hurriedly preparing for the opening night of "The Murder at Haversham Manor."

They even recruit an early-bird audience member to try to fix the fireplace mantel of the bargain-basement drawing room set Annie has cobbled together. But there's just not enough time or tape to make it work before ever-serious director and star Chris Bean (Scott Guthrie) seizes the stage for his preshow speech.

Before Chris gets to chew the scenery in the lead role of Sherlock Holmes wannabe Inspector Carter, the rest of the cast gets to nibble and gnaw it in their parts as upper-crust Brits caught up in a case of murder most funny. With his poor timing and poorer luck, model-turned-actor Jonathan Harris (Grayson McMillian Fontana-Harless, also making his Lyric debut) struggles to convincingly play dead as the titular murder victim, Charles Haversham.

A lifelong performer, Sandra Wilkinson (Emily J. Pace) showily portrays Charles' often-hysterical fiancee Florence Colleymoore, who is having a secret affair with her future husband's younger brother, Cecil Haversham, played by the happy-go-lucky Max Bennett (Joseph Campbell), a handsome first-time actor who also happens to be the production's wealthy benefactor.

Matching Sandra's flashy flair, seasoned thespian Robert Grove (Jason Bias) takes on the role of Florence's overbearing brother, Thomas Colleymoore. (Bias also keeps the fun going during intermission, as his Robert just can't wait for the final bows to meet his fans and bask in their admiration.)

Rounding out the whodunit's cast, nervous newcomer Dennis Tyde (Ronn Burton) is floundering but game in his first role as Haversham Manor's allegedly unflappable butler, Perkins.

The well-intentioned cast and crew struggle to stay true to the theatrical mantra that "the show must go on," even as the mishaps mount: The leading lady gets knocked unconscious, Dennis struggles to pronounce the lines he's written on his hands, and misplaced props force the performers to improvise.

You have to admire the dogged determination of the fictional cast and crew to carry on with the show even as it literally falls apart.

Whether they're juggling furnishings as they fall off the walls or delivering spit takes, the actors take on the story's physical comedy with gusto. Under Wells' direction — with Sydney Sinclair as assistant director — the Lyric cast has the controlled chaos under control.

4. The crew deserves kudos for making the show fall apart just right

As with most Lyric shows, "The Play That Goes Wrong" looks and sounds great thanks to the efforts of costume designer Jeffrey Meek, lighting designer Fabian J. Garcia and sound designer Corey Ray. Fight director Kris Kuss deserves kudos for enabling the actors to pull off the show's hilariously unorthodox action sequences.

With all the outlandish antics involved, its not hard to figure out why the Broadway production won a Tony Award for best scenic design of a play. Set designer Kimberly Powers and props designer Larry Heyman supply the OKC production with the tools needed to make the madcap comedy work.

But if this theatrical love letter is addressed to any particular parties, it goes out to the behind-the-scenes stars like (real) stage manager Grace Neal, props coordinator Matthew Alvin Brown and stage crew members C. Augustus Matthews, Rachel Campbell and Katelyn King.

In a show where so much goes wrong by design, it serves as a reminder to be grateful for the folks who make sure things go right with all the other titles.

5. The laughter feels so right in the 'The Play That Goes Wrong'

To get "The Play That Goes Wrong" right requires practice, precision and professionalism, and the Lyric Theatre team brings all that to the proverbial table — even if that table gives every appearance of collapsing at any moment.

Although it leans heavily on fearless pratfalls and crack comedic timing, the crowd-pleasing show is sharply written and cleverly constructed. It's not mindless humor, but it is good-natured entertainment.

Murder plot notwithstanding, "The Play That Goes Wrong" feels refreshingly earnest and upbeat, a welcome break from the cynicism and divisiveness that can feel omnipresent in 21st-century life.

Mostly importantly, it's very funny, and the laughter feels great, at least until your cheeks start hurting.

And even then, still worth it.

'THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG'   

• When: Through April 23.

• Where: Lyric at The Plaza, 1725 NW 16.    

• Tickets: https://lyrictheatreokc.com.    

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lyric Theatre's 'The Play That Goes Wrong' hilarity makes faces hurt