By Jeanni Ritchie

The play within a play concept can be hard to follow but the cast of Pineville High’s Theater is up to the task. Full of slapstick comedy, the talented cast adeptly portrays members of Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they put on a performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor.

During the performance, a plethora of disasters befalls the cast, including doors sticking, props falling from the walls, and floors collapsing. Cast members misplace props, forget lines, miss cues, break character, mispronounce words, step on fingers, and are mishandled off-stage.

 

My favorite part is when a cast member is knocked unconscious and the group’s technician replaces her. Reading the script as she performs until a mishap has her hilariously and inappropriately ad-libbing, Annie (Emma Stewart) falls in love with performing so much that she refuses to give the role up when original actress Sandra (Rayne Blake) returns. That’s showbiz!

 

The award-winning show has been hailed a cross between Monty Python & Sherlock Holmes and has delighted audiences since 2012. Laughter rings out from the PHS auditorium as well which only fuels this brilliant cast also including Keagan Moore, Charles Bubenzer, Matt McQuain, Olivia Goodnight, Andrew Abbott, Claire Groh, and Jolie Sabbides.

 

Directed by Katelyn Bush, who also stars as Denise, the multitalented senior has proven her capabilities on and off-stage. Pineville High School’s Theatre Department has had a real treasure the last four years in Bush and you don’t want to miss her final performance at Pineville High.

 

Under the artistic and technical direction of Kristopher Prestridge, The Play That Goes Wrong will be presented April 26-28 in Pineville High School’s Auditorium. Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 PM and Sunday at 2 PM. Tickets can be purchased in advance at pinevillehightheatre.com or at the door.