Broadway at TPAC presents: The Play That Goes Wrong (Oct. 9 – 14; Ages 10+) TPAC's Jackson Hall 505 Deaderick St., Nashville 615-782-4040 • tpac.org Remaining Showtimes: Wed – Thu 7:30 p.m., Fri 8 p.m., Sat 2 & 8 p.m., Sun 1 & 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $40 – $85 They say laughter is good for the soul, and yours will be in tip-top shape with a trek to TPAC this week to experience a spectacular side-splitting theatrical romp through The Play That Goes Wrong. It's a hysterical play within a play, and it's title appropriately nods to the disastrous on-stage happenings that the fictional Cornley University Drama Society encounters. In short, anything that can go wrong DOES go wrong. And it tickles the funny bone in all the right ways! This Mischief Theatre Company production first premiered in London in 2012 and opened at the Duchess Theatre in the West End in September 2014. It's picked up the 2015 Laurence Olivier Award (Britain's equivalent of the Tony) for Best New Comedy. Making its way to Broadway in 2017, it snagged the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play. While many liken The Play That Goes Wrong to another play-within-a-play hit comedy, Noises Off, the latter focuses more on the goings on between cast members backstage. In Wrong, the Cornley cast is beset by one prop malfunction after another, a set that keeps falling apart during the show, a Duran Duran-obsessed lighting and sound operator constantly missing his cues, flubbed lines and the necessity of crew filling in for the actors (just the ones who've been accidentally knocked out on stage). It's all a recipe for hilarity, and the sensational cast's impeccable comedic timing start to finish can't be beat. The commitment to physical comedy is superb in this slapstick farce. Add to that Nigel Hook's tricked-out scenic design full of booby traps and mishaps, and you've got a triumphant theatrical hit. Kudos to the wildly talented cast. It includes Evan Alexander Smith (Chris), Brandon J. Ellis (Trevor), Angela Grovey (Annie), Ned Noyes (Max), Scott Cote (Dennis), Peyton Crim (Robert), Jaie Ann Romero (Sandra) and Yaegel T. Welch (Jonathan). It's remarkable to watch truly seasoned actors playing ones who aren't good at being on stage. Yet, the show must go on to the bitter end as the walls literally fall down around them. It's one calamity after another, and these fine actors work seamlessly to pull off what is undoubtedly the funniest stage production of all time. The Play That Goes Wrong is a perfect family outing. Your kids will love it, and it's a great opportunity for them to experience top-notch physical comedy.
