The Play That Goes Wrong
by Temple Civic Theatre

Apr. 16 - Apr. 17 (2023)

The Play That Goes Wrong introduces the cast and crew of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they prepare to stage their new production – the 1920s murder mystery ‘Murder at Haversham Manor’.

With a murder (and a moving corpse) established from the beginning, the murder mystery gets into full flow. However, the props start to disappear, actors go missing and the set begins to collapse around, and often on, the cast. Mayhem ensues, the acting gets worse, and the set becomes increasingly dangerous, but the company struggle on regardless. The question is whether any of the cast and crew will remain standing, or conscious, by the final curtain?!

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All parts are physical roles. Very physical roles are noted below.

Available Roles:

CHRIS (any ethnicity) Rigid, uptight, everything really matters. He is the director of the show and this is the biggest day of his life. He has equal amounts of contempt for his fellow actors & the audience watching the play. British accent.

ROBERT (any ethnicity) Wants to be Richard Burton, as evidenced by his declamatory style. He does not feel badly when things go wrong and never learns from his mistakes. There is a power struggle between Robert and Chris to be president of the Cornley Poly Drama. Has real vocal power. British accent.

MAX (any ethnicity) He has never been on stage before. He learned his lines and does exactly what he’s told to do. Childlike and naïve. Very physical role. British accent.

DENNIS (any ethnicity) He has no real desire to be involved in the theatre, he just wants to make friends. He may be slightly oblivious, but understands when he gets things wrong. British accent.

TREVOR (any ethnicity) The play’s lighting and sound operator. He simply wants to get on with the show. Curmudgeonly and doesn’t care for actors. American Accent.

JONATHAN (any ethnicity) A bit bland, but sees himself as a James Bond type. Excited and having fun, but not naïve. He cares about the play, but not to the same extent as the others. Very Physical role. British accent.

SANDRA (any ethnicity) She is vain and possesses a huge ego. Very physical role. British accent.

ANNIE (any ethnicity) The stage manager. U.S. accent.