Chaos has never been so perfectly choreographed. The Play That Goes Wrong, now delighting audiences at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre as part of its Australian Tour, is executed with such calamity and precision that you can’t help but marvel at the artistry beneath the mayhem.
A Mischief Theatre Company creation, co-written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, the production follows the hapless Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they valiantly attempt to stage the 1920s whodunnit The Murder at Haversham Manor.
What ensues is a glorious cascade of disasters: collapsing sets, misplaced props, forgotten lines, and pratfalls that would make Buster Keaton beam.
Under the influence of Mark Bell’s original direction, the show captures the manic energy of Fawlty Towers colliding head on with the backstage bedlam of Noises Off. Timing here is everything, and this cast nails it.
Amongst the production’s crumbling infrastructure, a missing dog and a Duran Duran box set, the cast, Eds Eramiha, Olivia Charalambous, Jonathan Martin, Brodie Masini, Joe Kosky, Tom Hayward, Stephanie Astrid John and Sebastiano Pitruzzello, milk every physical and sight gag in their desperate attempt to ‘keep the show going’.
Every stumble, missed cue, and ill-fated rescue is delivered with such commitment that the chaos feels both spontaneous and inevitable. Doors slam, walls topple, actors dangle precariously, yet every element lands with plenty of silliness and humour.
Get there early and enjoy the antics in the foyer! The Play That Goes Wrong is an enjoyable night out!
The Play That Goes Wrong
Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne
Performance: Wednesday 3 September 2025
Season continues to 28 September 2025
Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au
Following the Melbourne season, The Play That Goes Wrong will play the Glasshouse Theatre, Port Macquarie (23 – 25 October), Canberra Theatre Centre (28 October – 2 November) and Regal Theatre, Subiaco (7 – 16 November). For more information, visit: www.playgoeswrong.com for details.
Image: The Play That Goes Wrong – photo by Jordan Munns
Review: Rohan Shearn