The Play That Goes Wrong: A Hilarious Catastrophe at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre
If you’ve ever attended a performance and thought, ‘This could go horribly wrong,’ then ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is the theatrical equivalent of that thought, on steroids. Now gracing Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, this absolute crazy and very clever production had me wondering just how chaotic a play could really get. Spoiler alert: it gets gloriously chaotic!
From the moment I stepped into the theatre, something felt a little ‘off,’ and I mean that in the best possible way. Picture this: before the show even begins, the backstage crew is in a frenzy, wrestling with a broken mantelpiece and frantically searching for a runaway dog. Yes, you read that right, a dog. And they want the audience’s help! If that’s not a sign of impending hilarity, I don’t know what is.
Once the curtain rises, chaos reigns supreme. The actors find themselves in a perfect storm of mishaps. Doors stick like they’ve been greased with molasses, props take unexpected dives from the walls, and let’s not even get started on the second level floor that seems to have a mind of its own. The cast members are treated to a veritable buffet of comedic calamities: characters tumble down like they’re auditioning for a slapstick reality show, props are misused in the most imaginative ways, and at one point, someone even drinks turps instead of what is supposed to be Scotch whisky.
The hilarity escalates with each scene, actors forget lines, miss cues, and even find themselves hidden in a grandfather clock. One poor soul gets knocked unconscious (don’t worry, they bounce back… eventually). It’s a delightful disaster that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with the audience erupting in laughter at every twist and turn. I spotted tennis legend Todd Woodbridge in front of me, doubled over in laughter alongside his wife Natasha, and it was contagious. The entire theatre was a chorus of joy, punctuated by roaring laughter that felt like a collective release of pent-up hilarity.
As I sat there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the entire set might just collapse, and honestly, I was here for it. The delightful absurdity had me reminiscing about the chaotic charm of ‘Fawlty Towers’, with its own brand of British lunacy.
In short, if you’re looking to experience a night of unrestrained laughter and beautifully orchestrated mayhem, ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ is your ticket! Just remember, leave your expectations at the door, because this play turns the concept of a ‘well-oiled machine’ on its head in the most side-splitting way possible. You won’t just watch the show; you’ll be part of a glorious, laugh-out-loud mess that’s sure to leave you in stitches!
By Melinda Sullivan
Photography by Cameron Grant
For more information and tickets please visit https://playgoeswrong.com/
