Watch It All Hilariously Fall Apart When “The Play That Goes Wrong” Opens

Press Release

Mix a dash of Monty Python hijinks and the mystery of Sherlock Holmes with an amateur troupe of comically clumsy actors, well in over their heads, and you have the truly hysterical New York and London farcical hit, The Play That Goes Wrong. This show-within-a-show boasts acclaim for comedy and set from the Olivier Awards and the Tony Awards for deserved reason–it continues to play to sold out houses with side-splitting laughter worldwide.

Meet the Cornley Drama Society: a troupe of eager actors ready to showcase their most serious play yet as an ensemble, The Murder at Haversham Manor. But what will they do as the set falls apart, performers get knocked unconscious, and stage crew members get spotted from backstage? This play-within-a-play whodunnit is side-splittingly hilarious on multiple levels. But don’t take our word for it–as Cate Blanchett reported after seeing the production, “I actually peed my pants…thank you?”

“This show is nothing like you’ve ever seen on our stage–think Noises Off drinking ten red bulls. Things break, walls fall, and you may even see the tech crew onstage!” says Cody Tellis Rutledge, Scenic Designer for The Play That Goes Wrong. “Act two has the hardest technical elements our shop has ever achieved–the audience will not believe their eyes once it happens. This is the funniest play I have ever seen or read, so get ready for Charleston Stage to up the bar once again.”

“As a season opener, The Play That Goes Wrong gives audiences a chance to see things from an actor’s perspective,” shares Director Marybeth Clark. “This is especially exciting as we welcome some of our newest Resident Actors to the cast and bring local favorites Colin Waters and Derek T. Pickens back to play. Play is really what this rehearsal process has been all about. It doesn’t matter how exactly others have done this show, we get to make it our own. You can rehearse for weeks but you cannot guarantee that the many things that fall apart in this play are going to land the same way, including the actors. The lines will be those that the playwright gave us, but I guarantee this show is the most ‘live’ theatre you will ever see.”

This collaborative cast features Charleston Stage’s Resident Actors Jhonika Wright as Annie, Cedar Valdez as Trevor (Bright Star “Jimmy Ray” and Kinky Boots “Harry”), K’nique Eichelberger as Dennis/Perkins (Elf The Musical “Matthew” and Kinky Boots “Lola”), Raymond Cronley as Jonathan/Charles Haversham, Cody Elsensohn as Max/Cecil Haversham/Arthur, and Facia Lee as Sandra/Florence Colleymore. Acting Ensemble members include Colin Waters as Robert/Thomas Colleymore (Bright Star “Mayor Josiah Dobbs” and Elf The Musical “Santa Claus”) and Derek T. Pickens as Chris/Inspector Carter (Bright Star “Daryl Ames” and Elf the Musical “Walter Hobbs”).

Charleston Stage’s The Play That Goes Wrong features the hilarious direction of Artistic Director Designee Marybeth Clark, purposefully tricking and toppling set designs by Resident Scenic Designer and Scenic Charge Cody Tellis Rutledge, artful stunt coordination by Burton Tedesco, costume designs by Costume Shop Director Courtni Riddick, lighting design by Resident Lighting Designer Caleb S. Garner, sound design by Resident Sound Designer Luke Walchuk, and stage management by Resident Stage Manager Ravyn T. Meador.

Performances of The Play That Goes Wrong run August 31st – September 25th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. Ticket sales are available online at CharlestonStage.com.

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