Chaos Unleashed: Hilarity Reigns in South Bend Civic Theatre’s ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’

Photo byGREG SWIERCZ

Laughter and mayhem will reign supreme at South Bend Civic Theatre’s latest production, The Play That Goes Wrong. Set to run from October 4 to 6 at Saint Mary’s College, this farcical masterpiece promises a blend of physical comedy, mishaps, and sheer absurdity—all intentional, of course.

“It’s going to be non-stop laughter,” said director William Heimann, who emphasized that the comedic tone of the play is deliberate from start to finish .

The Play That Goes Wrong immerses its audience in a play-within-a-play concept, following the ill-fated efforts of the fictional Cornley Polytech Drama Society as they attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery. With plenty of nods to Agatha Christie’s style, the production rapidly descends into chaos, where nearly everything that can go wrong does .

A Catalog of Chaos

Heimann knew he had found something special when he first read the script. “I noted 69 gags within the first 30 pages,” he shared, underscoring the complexity of the physical comedy and the precision needed for the actors to pull it off. The sheer number of mishaps woven into the performance pushes the boundaries of theatrical comedy .

Leading the fictional disaster is the character of Chris, played by Timothy McFeeters. Chris, who serves as the director of the play within the play, is constantly battling to keep things on track despite the endless interruptions and mistakes. “Chris isn’t complex—he’s ordinary, and he’s doing his best to keep the show going,” said McFeeters. Although this is his debut role at Civic, McFeeters has a rich background in performance, having worked with Twin City Players and South Bend Lyric Opera .

Yet, despite the slapstick nature of the play, McFeeters finds himself breaking character at times. “I catch myself laughing, even though my role is meant to be serious. It’s the funniest show I’ve ever been part of,” he admitted .

An Actor’s Playground

For Brian Nolan, who plays the exuberant Max, the role is an actor’s dream. Max is a theater novice, prone to stealing the spotlight and defying instructions, which only adds to the comedic mayhem. “This is the most unique production I’ve ever been involved in,” said Nolan, a 20-year veteran of the stage . His experience with the Summer Shakespeare Classic series has not prepared him for the level of improvisation required in The Play That Goes Wrong. “It’s obvious this was created by actors, for actors,” he noted .

One of the most memorable moments in the play, Nolan shared, involves a disaster on stage so grand that it would ordinarily bring a performance to a halt. But in The Play That Goes Wrong, the disaster is just the beginning of the comedy spiral .

Controlled Chaos

Heimann and his cast have spent hours discussing how to strike the delicate balance between intentional bad acting and staying true to their scripted characters. “There’s a dance between playing the parts well and purposefully playing them badly,” Heimann explained . Despite the whirlwind of chaos, there remains an actual murder mystery at the heart of the show, with crucial plot points buried beneath layers of humor. “The trick is making sure the audience can follow the plot while laughing,” Heimann said .

For audiences ready to laugh until they cry, The Play That Goes Wrong is set to be the comedic highlight of the season. With its cast of quirky characters and cleverly staged disasters, this is one theatrical experience that delivers both heart and hilarity in spades.