West Stanly Players to present ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

Dropped lines, fainting performers, confused crew members and a set that keeps falling apart all sound like a nightmare for any theatre group. But this year, for the West Stanly Players’ 2024 spring production, it means things are going as planned.

The West Stanly Players will present “The Play That Goes Wrong”on May 3-5 and May 10-11.

“After doing back to back musicals for the past two seasons, we were ready to return to feel good, laugh out loud comedy,” WSP director Wes Tucker said. “This show allows the audience to leave their troubles at the door, and laugh at other peoples’ misfortunes.”

According to Tucker the show’s popularity is in the over-the-top characters in outlandish situations. The plot revolves around a “play within a play” as the Cornley Drama Society performs its opening night production of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” a simple, but serious, whodunit mystery. However, from the opening curtain, it is clear that things are not going as planned for the group.

The play takes elements of slapstick, physical comedy like The Three Stooges and over the top farces like “The Carol Burnett Show” or “Mr. Bean” and combines them with an audience-interactive murder mystery. The audience gets to watch and participate as these “serious” actors’ lives fall apart before their eyes.

“This is probably one of the most technically challenging shows we have produced at WSHS,” says Tucker. “The scenery and effects play a huge role as well as the audience being involved throughout the show.”

In addition, the Players will also present the interactive murder mystery, “Murder at Rutherford House,” as part of the “play within a play” in which the audience gets pulled into the action and even has a role in guessing the murderer at the end.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” runs on May 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and May 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the West Stanly Players Theatre at West Stanly High School. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door for general admission. Reserved seating can be purchased for $15.

For ticket information call April Tucker at 704-791-3200 or West Stanly High School at 704-961-5205.

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