A Geeky Guy's Guide to The Play That Goes Wrong

In my humble opinion, the only thing better than a Broadway play is an Off-Broadway play. There is something that makes you feel like you are kind of cool for attending something cheaper in a smaller venue. It is kind of like the feeling you get when you see a band in a small venue. That is exactly how we felt last week when we went to see The Play That Goes Wrong at the New World Stages in New York City.

The play is based on a very funny premise: what if a small local theater company got blessed with a big budget so they could put on their dream play? They can build the best set they have ever had, make the best costumes and include the best sound and lighting. But here's the problem, it is still the same amateur actors and careless stage director they always use. What those are the ingredients of your recipe, what you end up with is a... Play That Goes Wrong. And boy does it go wring in the most hilarious ways.

Even if all the play had going for it were the physical obstacles presented by an incompetent stage manager and faulty set building, the show would have been quite funny. It was actually quite impressive just how many gags they were able to squeeze out of the fact that things were being built right up until the curtain raises. They actually did something brilliant and while you are getting to your seat, there are "stage crew members" who are putting on the final touches on the set. Even that little pre-show detail had some laugh out loud moments.

But the physical set jokes were not even close to the best part. The actors were fantastic! I think the only thing more difficult than being a good actor is being a good actor pretending to be a bad actor. And that is exactly what the entire cast had to pull off. And they did it brilliantly! Although every cast member played their part perfectly, Samuel Douglas as Max steals the show. Without spoiling too much, Douglas constantly breaks the "fourth wall" with hilarious results. The next funniest performance is by Kolby Kindle who plays Trevor the stage manager. Although you might say he too breaks the fourth wall, but he's not supposed to be in the play so it is really hard to judge. Either way, it leads to so many belly laughs I left in pain... but in a good way.

Without revealing any spoilers, the play is supposed to be a murder mystery. A main charter opens as a corpse and the next hour and a half is a hilarious romp to try and find the killer. I can't stress enough how creative this play is. Perhaps one of the most impressive things about it is that it provides non-stop laughs without ever uttering a single swear word. Far too often, writers use crass humor as a crutch. Although I am no prude and also enjoy R-rated comedy, there is a special place in my funny bone for writers who can make me laugh and remain PG-13. My entire family loved and and we will see it again if it ever comes to Chicago.

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