William Mason High School's THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION

Robert, played by Nick Hughes, in the middle of one of his many spit takes in William Mason High School’s production of The Play that Goes Wrong: High School Edition

Review by Charlotte Weghorst, Highlands High School Critic Team

In a world of leather-bound books, clinking whiskey glasses, and the gentle crackle of a fireplace, the stage is set for the decadence and deceit of a classic whodunit. But as a swirling snowstorm batters the windows, the facade of mystery gives way to something far more foreboding: a play in catastrophe! However, amid the uproar, Mason High School's production of The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition turns chaos into comedy gold.

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, this Tony Award-winning play follows the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they perform a jazz-age murder mystery, The Murder at Haversham Manor. This play-within-a-play follows a motley crew of characters as they attempt to decipher who murdered the affluent Charles Haversham at his own engagement party. Meanwhile, the condemned college theater troupe is rapidly plunged into a plague of misfortunes, including, but not limited to, a stage manager with violent tendencies, a dead man who can't quite pull off being 'six feet under', and a set with a mind of its own.

Mason High School delivered a production worthy of praise as they worked tirelessly to pull off this spin on the murder mystery, between special effects, the performances of individual actors, and overall production value.

Elise Hartman, who played the admirably determined director of the doomed production, Chris (Playing Inspector Carter), brought both stage presence and flair in her portrayal. Moreover, Robert (Thomas Colleymore), portrayed by Nick Hughes, similarly impressed with his range. Going from a concerned brother to a villainous murderer while also witnessing the frenzy before him, Hughes demonstrated a prowess for comedic timing.

Sean McFarland , Max (playing Cecil Haversham and Arthur) , stole the spotlight with his dramatic portrayal. Whether it was displaying his knack for physical comedy, heavenly vocals, or enthusiastic energy, McFarland brought an atmosphere of chaos and havoc to the stage.

Finally, The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition calls upon a variety of technical elements that require precision and practice. Props by Anya Bandekar researched popular books from the jazz age, common embellishments like drinking glasses, and utilized clever substitutes for poison. Additionally, both costumes by Aashita Srivastava and makeup by Emori Witmer-Gautsch and Lily Altier needed to work cohesively to do their due diligence with historical accuracy. Authentic 1920s fabrics served alongside makeup color palettes and iconic hairstyles to transport the audience to the Prohibition era. Finally, the set by Alex Kosina, David Ranker, Michaela Milne, Renee Overholser, and David Contreras was a major feat in itself. Between falling shelves and turning bookcases, The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition called upon difficult traps and set pieces that take creativity to pull off.

Between the mayhem, madness, and misfortune, Mason High School's production of The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition delivered a production worthy of every hearty laugh it received.

Katherine Robiglio as Denise and Isa Spary as Annie revolve around the bookcase in William Mason High School’s production of The Play that Goes Wrong: High School Edition 

Review by Clark Sayre, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team

The set's breaking, the lights aren't focused, and the dog is nowhere to be found! It's opening night for the Cornley Drama Society, and it seems that nothing else can go wrong. However, William Mason High School's The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition proves that every show can always get worse.

Authored by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer, The Play That Goes Wrong zooms in on Christina Bean as she excitedly presents the Cornley Drama Society's newest play, The Murder at Haversham Manor. She hopes that this show will stray from the society's record of theatrical calamities, but that is anything but the case. As the show progresses, it becomes abundantly clear that this is bound to be Cornley's most disastrous production yet.

William Mason High School didn't shy away from the technical behemoth that is producing The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition. Despite their brief rehearsal time, the crew configured their black box theatre into a proscenium stage, constructing a raised playing space completely from scratch. This allowed the set's inner workings to be hidden from view, upholding the element of surprise that is necessary in a show of this nature.

At the forefront of the troubled troupe was Nick Hughes as Robert/Thomas Colleymoore. Hughes used bold choices to create a hysterically over-the-top, macho-man character. He combined vibrant expressions with a precise cartoonish physicality to put on a comedic masterclass that did nothing but enhance the entire show.

Attempting to control the mishaps was Annie, played by Isa Spary, and her ensemble of stagehands. Spary magnificently utilized deadpan and mispronunciation to convey her initial disgust with having to replace an incapacitated actor. From acting as set pieces to interacting with the audience, she exhibited extreme comedic prowess throughout her entire performance. Furthermore, the Stage Crew Ensemble not only perfectly channeled the frantic energy of a crew on a failing show but also lived up to their name by facilitating all of the show's scene changes. They impressively demonstrated their aptitude both as comedic actors and skilled theatre technicians, proving how important both aspects are to an overall production.

Accompanying the lively acting, the technical elements allowed the play to truly 'go wrong'. The set crew, led by Alex Kosina, David Ranker, David Contreras, and Michaela Milne, constructed a wonderfully complex set that exquisitely magnified the hilarity of the actors. They combined collapsing walls, spinning bookcases, and falling paintings to make sure that each comedic moment landed flawlessly. Additionally, the sound crew, led by Annabelle Costello, implemented a brand-new speaker configuration to supplement the lack of a permanent sound system in Mason's black box theater. Despite this, the sound stayed incredibly crisp and clear throughout the entire show.

With hilarious acting and wonderful tech, William Mason High School's The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition deftly showed that the funniest things happen when things don't go to plan.

Nick Hughes as Robert and Sean MacFarland as Max dueling  in William Mason High School’s production of The Play that Goes Wrong: High School Edition

Review by Adah Mosher, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team

BOOM! As a wall falls over, a dog goes missing, and many other mishaps occur, William Mason High School took on the challenge of The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition, and it went spectacularly right!

Written by Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer and first performed in 2012, The Play That Goes Wrong follows an ill-fated production of a murder mystery play that does not go as planned. The show took London by storm, and the popularity only grew from there, moving to Off-Broadway.

William Mason High School's production had all the iconic bits that this show requires while also adding original elements. With impressive technical elements such as a well-functioning set, precisely called cues, and perfectly placed props, as well as expressive actors who conveyed the panic of their characters extremely well, it led to an engaging and exciting performance.

Leading the show as Robert (playing Thomas Colleymoore), Nick Hughes performed with ease through all of the intricate elements of the show. His comedic timing and explicit intentions led to a compelling performance. Elise Hartmann did a hilarious job of portraying Chris (playing Inspector Carter). Her ability to both play the guilty inspector as well as the flustered director of the show showed her capability as an actor.

Isa Spary as Annie showed immense talent with her specific facial expressions and comical line delivery. She made it clear from the first scene that she would give an entertaining performance. Featured in the show was Drew Schulz as Trevor. His bubbly personality added a positive energy to the show that would not have been there otherwise.

As for tech, this show is no walk in the park, and Mason's technical crew stood the test with confidence. Alex Kosina, David Ranker, David Contreras, and Michaela Milne, who designed sets, made a falling wall look exceptionally easy along with a spinning bookshelf and doors that fell off hinges. Stage managers Gavin Dunn, Maya Donohoe, and Lara Yee helped the show run smoothly through exact calling of cues, thorough communication with the entire cast and crew, and ensuring that everyone was safe with all of the planned accidents.

William Mason High School's production of The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition was, all around, a strong production that showed the department's comprehension of difficult shows. Their complex technical elements and hysterical comedic timing made for a great time.

The cast of William Mason High School’s production of The Play that Goes Wrong: High School Edition discover the body of Jonathan played by Austin Black.

Excerpts From Other Top Reviews

"Sean MacFarland's portrayal as Max was a standout display of both enthusiasm and physical comedy. MacFarland fully embodied Max's wide-eyed excitement at simply being onstage, entering every scene with an earnest, almost childlike charm. Even as the production around him descended into mayhem, MacFarland's character maintained a sense of genuine delight."

-Violet Hisey, Highlands High School Critic Team

"In order for keys to be pencils and vases as notebooks, props master Anya Bandekar had to keep the misplaced items organized and accounted for with their crew Bailee Engel and Anthony Scott. Handmade items such as the breakable stretcher and can of paint thinner were visually striking and unique to the production."

-Norah Shadwell, Highlands High School Critic Team

"Across from Hughes was Elise Hartmann playing Chris (playing Inspector Carter). Hartmann not only played Inspector Carter well, but excelled in bringing her actress, Chris, to life. Every break in Carter's character felt like something you'd see in a show as disastrous as this one, making Hartmann's Chris possibly the most relatable character in the show."

-Parker Roland, Larry A. Ryle High School Critic Team

"The tech in this show was truly immaculate; every single element seemed to get more and more extraordinary. The audience's hearts jumped out of their chests when the background sets collapsed, and the laughter was contagious every time a painting or the mantel fell. Each piece was exceptionally impressive in making sure it had the same comedic effect while still being safe for those on stage."

-Bryce Brownknight, Mariemont High School Critic Team

"Seeing as The Play That Goes Wrong is heavily comically centered, Sean MacFarland, in the role of Max (playing Cecil Haversham and Arthur), heightened this fact to another level. MacFarland effortlessly landed each joke and made his characters quirkier with the personal acting choices he made. On the other hand, Annie (the stage manager), played by Isa Spary, expressed her character's development perfectly, accentuating how deeply devoted Annie became to her role, understudying Florence Collymoore."

-Cecilia Rasmussen, Mariemont High School Critic Team

"The already amusing play was enhanced by the spectacular work done by the crew. Alex Kosina, David Ranker, David Contreras, and Michaela Milne spearheaded the creation of the breathtaking set, as their constructions would tie together many rib-tickling moments during the show. The set's quality and versatility made for an immersive experience overall."

-Henry Weghorst, Highlands High School Critic Team

"Despite the arduous technical elements needed to perform this play and the hard-to-achieve comedic timing required, William Mason High School faced this challenge head-on while still managing to add their own unique taste to the play."

-Berkley Clos, Highlands High School Critic Team