Theater Review: 'The Play That Goes Wrong' at Center Stage Theatre

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is going right at Center Stage Theatre in Shelton. The ambitious and hysterical play filled with British humor is directed by Betsy Kelso, who wrote and directed “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” Off Broadway. Kelso performed with Youth CONNection when she was in high school and has returned to Shelton to work with Center Stage.

The director explains that Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields wrote “The Play That Goes Wrong” as “a play within a play–a murder mystery set in 1922, to be exact. Invention and change were underway then, as they are now.”

Kelso believes that this wildly comedic and chaotic play is perfect for the moment. The Cornley Drama Society actors and stage crew at the center of the show may appear to be bumbling their way through mishaps, but they’re also a tight knit group of people demonstrating resilience in the face of chaos.”

The production team set out to celebrate the theme of resilience while making their audiences “laugh heartily and often” and that we “come to delight in the unexpected.” There is no doubt that patrons will see things in this play that you have not seen in any other and that is what makes it so much fun. Performers will relate to most of the hilarious missteps in this script, but anyone will enjoy this wild ride.

Annie Twilloil, the play within a play’s stage manager, is brought to wonderful life by the ridiculously talented Melanie Byron, who was a riot as Nanny in “Bingo Jamboree.” Byron is pictured above at left.

Hunter Smith plays Trevor, the overwhelmed lighting and sound operator. In his program bio, Smith jokes that he is shocked to be allowed back on this stage after his dreadful performance as Frank Abagnale, Sr. in “Catch Me If You Can.”

Terrance J. Peters plays the role of Chris, who plays Inspector Carter. Making his Center Stage Theatre “DAY-Boo,” Peters also served as Fight Director and Sound Designer, while his character is director, set designer, props master, dramaturg, dialect coach, and fight choreographer of the murder mystery.

In his seventh Center Stage production, Dave Kaminski shows off some great physical comedy as the actor Jonathan, who portrays Charles Haversham.

Long-time Center Stage contributor Scott Sheldon really shines in the role of Robert who plays Thomas Colleymore.

Lucy Babbitt makes her Center Stage debut as the actress Denise, who plays the maid Perkins. Babbitt is a just-retired elementary teacher who in June will reprise her role as Betty in “Chapatti” at Westport Community Theater.

What fun it is to watch Paul Keegan play the actor Max, who portrays the role of Cecil Haversham, and in the second act, Arthur the Gardener. Keegan recently appeared as Will Parker in “Oklahoma!” and Hanratty in “Catch Me If You Can.”

In her fifth show at Center Stage, Brianna Dawson plays the actress Sandra who decidedly overplays the role of Florence Colleymore. I got to see her play Crystal in “Little Shop of Horrors” at Connecticut Repertory Theatre at UConn Storrs.

The Cornley Drama Society Stage Crew include the comedic talents of Lindsey Campbell, Cooperative Arts and Humanities High School sophomore Payton Goodwin and Candice Sisbarro in her debut on this stage. The team interacts with the audience during the pre show and intermission. Shout out to the real stage manager Isabel Salazar for all of her heavy lifting.

The plethora of lighting cues were designed by the director and Technical Director Justin Zenchuk, with Scott Sheldon in charge of set logistics/assembly lead. The costumes and props team of Lindsey Campbell and Tammy D’Auria add to the period look. Liz Muller worked with Peters on the ambitious sound design. In the middle of the typical Center Stage program book there is a cheeky program for the embedded “The Murder at Haversham Manor.”

The second show of Center Stage’s 2024 season, a “truly unexplainable, entertaining 2-hour escape from reality” continues through Apr. 28.

The theater shared a few tips to enhance the experience of “The Play That Goes Wrong.”

“The performance runs approximately 2 hours including one intermission. Printed tickets are not required for entry - just give your name to the Usher at the door. Don’t be late! Doors open 30 minutes ahead of curtain and you want to be there as early as possible – you’ll get a glimpse of “wrong” things to come! In fact, the title explains the show perfectly.” Tickets at https://bit.ly/3J5shkI.

Connecticut Critics Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis laughed her way through this performance of an ambitious and hysterical play.

All photos: Members of the cast of 'The Play That Goes Wrong' in rehearsal Photography (PR, Promotion) by C.E. Simon