Reviews: The Play That Goes Wrong at Langley High School
Written by Diya Meda of Independence High School
Chaos, collapsing sets, and catastrophically committed actors. Langley High School's production of The Play That Goes Wrong turned disaster into brilliance, delivering a hysterical evening of planned imperfection carried out with impressive precision.
Originally written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, The Play That Goes Wrong follows the fictitious Cornley Drama Society as they attempt to stage The Murder at Haversham Manor, a classic whodunit. What begins as a simple murder mystery spiral into comedic mayhem as props malfunction, actors miss cues, and the set itself becomes an opponent. The humor is rooted not only in mockery and charade, but in the unwavering seriousness with which the actors approach their unraveling world.
Leading the chaos was Frankie Diorio as Chris, the over-stressed director and investigator. His deadpan delivery and increasingly explosive frustration fueled much of the show's comedic rhythm. Equally memorable was Kate Walsh as Annie the reluctant stage manager, whose transformation from timid techie to overconfident diva was both unexpected and unrestrained. Moments such as her accidental on-stage debut and eventual rivalry with Sandra (Sophia Christiano) became highlights of the production.
Physical comedy is the backbone of this show, and the Langley cast executed it with timing and precision. Yann Lam as Max (playing Cecil Haversham) charmed the audience with exaggerated reactions and comedic breaks, interacting with laughter in a way that felt natural and intentional. Meanwhile, Alec McFadyen, portraying Trevor the tech operator, brought wonderfully subtle humor, whether by half-heartedly fixing props or playing games instead of focusing on the chaos happening on stage.
The technical elements were a show within a show. The purposeful set malfunctions, including collapsing doorframes, falling portraits, and a platform that seemed determined to eject its cast, were executed with impressive safety and control. The team's coordination ensured every mishap read as spontaneous rather than choreographed. Costumes supported the faux-period mystery aesthetic, while sound and lighting elevated the comedy through well-timed cues (or the "wrong" ones at just the right moment).
Among the show's strongest achievements was the ensemble's commitment. The humor worked because no actor ever treated the show like a comedy. Their seriousness amplified the absurdity, creating the illusion that everything was genuinely going off the rails.
Langley High School's The Play That Goes Wrong was a masterclass in intentional chaos. It showcased not only comedic talent, but trust, teamwork, and discipline. Because when everything is meant to go wrong, the only way to make it go right is to perform it flawlessly.
Written by Ella Jaffee of Woodgrove High School
Boom! Crash! Thwack! And... is that Duran Duran? Welcome to The Play That Goes Wrong at Langley High School!
The Play That Goes Wrong was written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, members of the Mischief Theatre Company, a group that has produced an array of entertainment that has "gone wrong." In this increment, a struggling theatre troupe is presenting their take on a chilling mystery, Murder At Haversham Manor. But as the house lights dim and every component of their performance begins to crumble around them, the company has to decipher how to keep the story moving forward while attempting to conceal their follies. With misbehaved set pieces, a pup on the loose, and a seemingly cursed lead female role, Langley High School's The Play That Goes Wrong went oh, so right!
One clear standout performer was Sophia Christiano as Sandra. Christiano depicted her role as full of chutzpah and melodramatic elegance that spiraled into anarchic unhingedness. Her movements, smooth and flamboyant, displayed an astounding level of commitment throughout the show, and perfectly contrasted the nervous Max, played by Yann Lam who, despite the nature of their character, was perfectly at ease on the stage. Lam artfully exhibited Max's character arc, starting unsure and awkward and slowly, as confidence built, became the jester of the play, leaving the audience howling with laughter. Their comedic timing was flawless, as was that of Cooper Short, who played Robert. Short's Robert had unwavering poise, and his articulate vocal choices pulled the audience into the story the fictional troupe was trying to tell. Short's hilarious facial expressions and ability to raise the stakes in every scene were clear highlights of the show.
Every technical element of the play was absolutely phenomenal. The set, designed by Mo Rees and with construction headed by Rami Aboud, was crafted with the ability to fall apart and be put back together for each performance. With a hidden revolving door, a collapsible floor, a suspiciously spacious grandfather clock, and much more, the set was formulated and built with meticulous attention to detail that shocked the audience while simultaneously keeping the play from actually, well, going wrong.
The true wizards behind the magic of this show were the stage crew, managed by Caroline Mayer, Vincent Struthers, Stella Scannell, and Mia Nash. Each "malfunction" was carefully set into motion by the stage crew, who hit every mark with breathtaking precision. Their comedic timing was just as impressive as that of the actors and had a major hand in the exemplary pacing of the story.
The actors were just as wonderfully fashioned as the set. Their costumes by Alyssa Sun and Alice Zhang demonstrated beautiful attention to detail and truly captured the makeshift essence of the troupe in the story. Characters sported intentionally too-big suits, comically short trousers, and funky socks that added to the discord of the narrative in a delightful way, acting as the ultimate icing on the cake of hilarity.
As the final wall crashed to the floor and the cast of characters were strewn about the ill-fated manor in disarray, the sound of rapturous applause mixed in the air with the uncontrollable laughter that was heard throughout. Langley High School's production of The Play That Goes Wrong assured that every member of the audience left with their stomachs aching from laughter and a smile on their face, because, even when our foundations are shaken and it feels like the walls might cave in, laughter truly is the best medicine... or mints.