The Play that Goes Wrong - Live Theatre Notes

The Play that Goes Wrong - Live Theatre Notes

1. Set

   • Two levels, the office on a raised platform- This then fell down part way through
     • Created farcical comedy- actor was stuck on the fallen platform holding up all the furniture.
     • Created shock from the audience- unexpected - showed stunt skills from actors.
   • Semi-realistic front room- mix between huge chandileer and fancy sofa to a badly-painted on fireplace
     • Creates comedy, trivialises am-dram groups with their shoddy DIY set
   • Various peices of set broke/ fell over, eg- curtains fell off, fixtures fell off the wall, light fell down.
     • Created farcical comedy
     • At the end the whele set fell, as a climactic end to the misfortune of the company
     • Disbelief from audience, audible gasps as thing fell down and actors skillfully comedically attempted to continue

2. Lighting

   • Red wash- when anything dramatic was said, this was effective in mimicking the over-the-top nature of am-dram
   • Square light moves up 'windows in side of stage- show the movement of the lift up to the top floor
   • Pyrotechnics?
     • sparks as the rigs fell down
     • Fire as a match was acciddently thrown in a bottle filled with turps.

3. Sound

   • Dramatic chord when anything was said about murder, mocks am-dram style
   • Music played at start and end, introducing audience to genre with the old style of music.
   • Trevor, the technician, played Duran Duran by accident when supposed to play dramatic chord.

4. Intentions

   • Satirise amateur dramatics.
   • Create farcical comedy.

5. Performers

   • Jonathon - Steven Rostance
     • Did the harder stunts - fell off raised platform, swung from fallen rig etc
     • When he came in at wrong point was seen in the window with head in hands
     • Seen crawling in when supposed to be dead
   • Max - Bobby Hirston
     • Clearly unexperienced
       • laughs at others' mistakes
       • Does extremely over the top actions, as if he was told to guesticulate more and he took it to the extreme
       • Interacted with audience when not supposed to
     • As gardener, gruff voice, made pretend dog noises in order to continue on as if dog was not lost
     • As Cecil, posh voice stood straight
     • nervous when he had to Kiss sandra
       • Over the top reactions as people walked in
   • Chris Bean - Jake Curran
     • pompous director of show, audience can see that his pretentiousness is not appropriate as his cast are not very good
     • Loses it more as the play gets progressively worse
       • "A ledger?" moment - shouting ofstage, hitting fists off sofa in anger
     • As inspector- Posh voice, stereotypical characterisations to show he is an amateur actor
   • Annie - Catherine Dryden
     • when filling in for sandra spoke with broad geordie accent, stood out from other cast members
     • scared onstage at first but then became more confident
     • mimicked sandras over the top movements
     • Got agressive when sandra wanted the role back
   • Dennis - Benjamin McMahon
     • Fidgeting and slumped to show stage fright
     • As waiter- hobbling to show age
     • When audience laughed he would look out and then turn away embarrassed
     • Confuses lines, causing huge mess ups
       • the looped scene, when he would say the wrong line and they would have to drink white spirit
         • He was confused and was beating himself up for making mistake
   • Trevor- Gabriel Paul
     • eating crisps throughout, clearly not paying attention - missed cues
     • When filling in for sandra, spoke disjointed while reading- looked out of place
     • shocked and scared when he had to kiss max
   • Sandra- Elena Valentine
     • Very over-the-top gestures and stance- shows she fancies herself as a good actress.
     • Gets very angry and aggressive when someone has taken over her role
   • Robert - Kazeem Tosin Amore
     • Seemed exasparated by others' mistakes
     • When drinking white spirit - had disgust on face, had to continue on
     • Stood straight and spoke with RP

6. Details

   • Mischief Theatre Company
   • 5th March 2018
   • Darlington Hippodrome

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