A MURDER MYSTERY BECOMES ‘THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG’
NON STOP SLAPSTICK MAKES THIS THE PERFECT SUMMER
NON STOP GIGGLES
A perfect way to end your summer theatre season, check into “The Murder at Haversham Manor” now on stage only through this Sunday August 18th at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre. From the moment you take your seat you can see the Cornely University Drama Society roaming the Golden Gate theatre preparing for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG. A “Noises Off” for a new generation, yet I missed the backstage drama that comedy originated.
This Broadway hit is in “Marx Brothers” form that will choke you with laughs for two straight hours. Written by the Mischief Theatre team of Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, and directed by Matt DiCarlo. The theatrical spoof first performed in London Pubs won the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2015. The comedy had a successful Westend and Broadway run, and now their national tour has arrived here at the Golden Gate.
The fictional "Cornley Univerity Drama Society" performs a production of a Murder Mystery play simular to “Clue”. This tour version is directed by Matt DiCario and features a tight cast of hilarious actors that have mastered comic timing. While slapstick can sometimes be repetitive, the choreography and direction is terrific. There's so much that is clever and surprising you really don't know what will happen next. I do feel the joke ends by the first act. I could only guess that the second is more about Nigel Hook’s jankie set, but you will have to see the show for that answer.
The play-within-a-play presented by a university drama society stages a 1920s mystery. A series of mishaps destroys opening night. The cast of clowns says “the show must go on” and continue their failed performance that becomes a perfect on stage comedy. The cast is solid with the standouts being Evan Smith as Chris, whose opening rant to the audience sends a shout out to the cast of HAMILTON down the street. Hook’s set does become the 9th actor in this Monty Python shootout. So much of the set has to match the actors timing and constant pratfalls.
Timing is everything and the excellent mix of design, stagehand fails, and the actors' screwball perfection makes this explosion of comedy eye candy. Be sure to be in your seat early to see the crew attempt to repair the set and follow the program, so you won’t miss a moment of the comedy’s silliness. Next up at the SHN Golden Gate is ANASTASIA that opens Sept 3rd and SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY opens Oct 11th. Excellent ticket options are available for THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, 40.00 rush seats are available at the Box Office day of show and at Todaytix.com. The comedy is only here this weekend.
SHN Presents
Mischief Theatre's
THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG
Directed by Matt DiCarlo, Original Direction by Mark Bell
Must close August 18th
SHN Golden Gate Theatre
1 Taylor St., San Francisco
Tickets: 888-746-1799, www.shnsf.com
Running Time 2 hours one intermission
Tickets at https://www.shnsf.com/Online/default.asp
PHOTO CREDIT: JEREMY DANIEL
$40 MOBILE RUSH at TodayTix.com web site
Download the TodayTix app in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store to unlock the Rush ticketing feature for RENT by sharing on Facebook or Twitter through the app.
Check back in the app at 9:00am for access to exclusive day-of $40 Rush tickets for every performance. Limited number of Rush tickets per performance.
