Theatre Review: The Play That Goes Wrong at Bristol Hippodrome
Photography by Robert Day
SUMMARY
Rating: ★★★
Running Dates: Monday 4th July - Saturday 9th July
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome (UK Tour)
Duration: 2 hrs 20 minutes (including 20 minute interval)
Keywords: Musical, Comedy, Slapstick
Photography by Robert Day
REVIEW
A classic comedy of errors that opens before it opens breaking the fourth wall with their ‘stage crew’ desperately trying to finish the set before the show opens. This sets the scene immediately for hilarity and a chance for an audience member to get involved... Poor James.
Act One opens on our director Chris performed eloquently by Colin Burnicle noting how other plays perhaps had not gone perfectly to plan setting the scene that maybe history would repeat itself tonight. The scene opens on our murder mystery and the show begins.
Overall our first act is full to the brim of small ‘errors’ onstage with characters such as Max played by Edi De Melo whose adorable face lights up with the biggest grin every time the audience clapped him, Chris becoming more and more inwardly outraged and the entire cast working around certain ‘set changes’.
A ledger. That's it, that's all I can say and all I ever want to say in any stressful situation for as long as I live.
Act Two is a headspinning delight and where the show really takes off - slowly entangling itself until the last 5 minutes or so which is sheer chaos - including the set dismantling itself as the script totally falls apart, on purpose of course. Actors wrestling and a feeling of not knowing who to focus on as it all comes to a hilarious crescendo.
Overall it was an amusing ‘fuh-cade’. A show that will have your side splitting, set smashing and out of puff from laughing so much. The show has something for almost everybody; 80s music fanatics, slapstick comedy lovers and avid Poirot fans.
As we all know the past few years have been an utter fuh-cade - but Mischief Theatre are proudly in Bristol, bringing us some lighthearted relief to a packed out audience all rolling around with laughter. It's unhinged (no literally the set is unhinged at SEVERAL points), death defying and utterly wonderful.
Nab some tickets now for an ab workout and a half.
Photography by Robert Day
Standout Quote or Moment: The sheer chaos of the final 5 minutes!
See If: You love a bit of silly fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously
Similar Plays: The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, Peter Pan Goes Wrong
Last Impression: Full of belly laughs and precision to pull off such comedic moments
Written by Steph Clarke & Eloise Sheffield
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