THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG National Tour

[dmwnc1959]

The National Tour Launch of “The Play That Goes Wrong” begins today in Pittsburgh. I’m excited to be seeing this on Saturday, and it’s the first show of our 2018/2019 Broadway in Pittsburgh season. Anyone else have tickets for the tour?

I’ve grouped together, for ease of use, a couple of previous threads, the tour website, and a couple of articles.

 

Is the “Play That Goes Wrong” good?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1111690#5080038 

“The Play The Goes Wrong” audience participation Spoiler-ish”

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1110683#5064286 

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2018/09/13/Q-A-Pittsburgh-Mischief-Theatre-creators-Play-That-Goes-Wrong-Benedum/stories/201809130129

...and Playbill 

http://www.playbill.com/article/national-tour-of-the-play-that-goes-wrong-launches-september-18

Official Tour Website: 

http://www.broadwaygoeswrong.com/tour.php

[dmwnc1959]

Love, love, LOVE these pictures of the cast hanging out around Pittsburgh!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-THE-PLAT-THAT-GOES-WRONG-Tour-Cast-Explores-Pittsburgh-20180918

[Markecib]

Just got out of the show. It was excellent! The audience couldn’t stop laughing. It was a great night at the Benedum Center.

[dmwnc1959]

From CBS Pittsburgh...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V9a7hkGvd5I

[rjnyyz]

Can anyone confirm if they were able to recreate the amazing physical staging they had on Broadway for the tour?  

[dmwnc1959]

rjnyyz said: "Can anyone confirm if they were able to recreate the amazing physical staging they had on Broadway for the tour?"

 

As of this morning the tour has only performed a total of two shows, so I’d be really surprised if there is anyone on this forum that has seen the Broadway show AND the new tour that just launched in Pittsburgh.

Maybe if you can elaborate what you mean by “...the amazing physical staging they had on Broadway...”, I’ll try and do a detailed report after I’ve seen the show this coming Saturday.

[Markecib]

The set is identicle, but smaller scale, but everything is there that I remember. There’s a lot more curtains to the side of the set, but that would change with the size of the stage. The Benedum stage is large and the set only takes up a small center.

As for the direction, the gags and set disasters are all there.

[dmwnc1959]

Markecib - since you’ve seen the show in Pittsburgh at the Benedum, did the souvenir stand in the lobby have window cards yet? And if you noticed, were they the NYC Broadway theater window cards or National Tour window cards?

How early did they start the “pre-show” acting (like they were setting up for the play)? I saw where they suggest you arrive early to see this as well.

And out of curiosity, what part of the show ends Act 1? Since there was no OBCR music to listen to, I’d like to get a heads-up on when to get ready to head for the restrooms and beat the crowd.

[Markecib]

1) I didn’t see window cards, but I didn’t really look. Saw t-shirts.

2) as soon as the doors open at 1/2 hour there’s “work” going on and if you’re in the orchestra you might be called upon to help.

3) Tough to say as it’s all part of the show but the line “disaterous, blackout end act 1” is the last line and the curtain comes down. Can’t point to a part it’s not a musical so there is no song to reference.

[dmwnc1959]

^ ^ ^ THANK YOU for the details! Looking forward to seeing this for the first time. I’ll try and post some pics of the souvenir stand, etc. for everyone else when I get back Saturday night.

[dmwnc1959]

They have window cards! Sooo excited. And they’re the National Tour window cards and not the Broadway theater named cards. Very small souvenir stand here at the Benedum with t-shirts (only black with white and pink lettering, $35), hoodies (black, $60), coffee mugs ($20), magnets and lapel pins ($10-15), ballcaps ($25), and show scripts ($20).

[dmwnc1959]

I’ve never laughed, giggled, and snickered so much for an entire show since “The Book of Mormon”.  And I thought I’d never be one for this style of slap-stick comedy, but I really enjoyed this show. From the pre-show entertainment on stage before the lights went down, to the antics in the lobby at intermission, start to finish this one was a winner in my books. 

To elaborate on the stage setting, the main curtain was lowered into a position about 1/3 of the way down for most the entire show except intermission. This sort of made the field of view into a nice rectangle. The sides of the centerpiece where all the action takes place were covered in black curtains, but this worked well for the entrances and exits to/from off stage. And off to the side was the desk and chair where Trevor (light and sound technician cast) sat. 

The folks sitting around me had NO idea what the show was about, only that is was a comedy, so I explained a little to them without giving anything big away. About that time the “Director” of the Play came right up to where I was sitting in the balcony and starting chatting with us. The “stage manager” and two cast members were all over the balcony looking for, I presume, the “lost dog”. 

Once the show started it was non-stop fun, the folks around me laughing along with the entire audience, which ate this show up. Overall I’d say those in attendance loved the show, but I did see one lady with her young kid leaving at intermission. Maybe she didn’t realize the show isn’t really kid-oriented. 

I included some pictures. The National Tour window card I bought, but I must say I like the Broadway version much better, which I’ll buy online somewhere. 


 











 

[dmwnc1959]

 

[Charley Kringas Inc]

I like the detail of the print alignment being off on the booklet or whatever that is.

[Bwayfan292]

oooo. I really like that window card. Glad you had a fun time dmwnc!

[dmwnc1959]

Another BWW article on the tour and cast with pictures...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Exclusive-THE-PLAY-THAT-GOES-WRONG-Opens-In-Pittsburgh-20180921

[dmwnc1959]

Charley Kringas Inc said: "I like the detail of the print alignment being off on the booklet or whatever that is."

That’s the Benedum’s version of a Playbill. I think the offset print and misalignment were also done for the Broadway version. Inside there was also A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT from the President of Cornley University Drama Society & Director of The Murder at Haversham Manor, the fake Bios (pictured above), as well as one fake ad, and I’m wondering how many people caught it.  

 

Bwayfan292 said: "oooo. I really like that window card. Glad you had a fun time dmwnc! "

Still snickering this morning thinking about the show. And yes, it was definitely a fun time. 

[ACL2006]

thanks so much for those pictures.

[dmwnc1959]

ACL2006 said: "thanks so much for those pictures."

You’re more than welcome! I hope you enjoyed them. 

 

As far as one interactive part of the show with the audience, prior to the show when several cast members (one in a black “James and the Peach” T-shirt) were combing the balcony for the “lost dog”, one cast member tried to get a couple at the end of my row to yell out the location of missing object “on cue”. When the time came they apparently chickened out, and the Inspector kept repeating the cue line over and over and over again (up to ten times) before someone in the orchestra front row jumped in and pointed it out. Then the Fourth Wall came down, again, in a long tirade, much to the hilarity of the audience, which “angered” the Director even more, who then called us a “bad audience”. And we just laughed and laughed. :)

 

[jenhum]

dmwnc1959 said: "I’ve never laughed, giggled, and snickered so much for an entire show since “The Book of Mormon”. And I thought I’d never be one for this style of slap-stick comedy, but I really enjoyedthis show. From the pre-show entertainment on stage before the lights went down,to the antics in the lobby at intermission, start to finish this one was a winner in my books.

To elaborate on the stage setting, the main curtain was lowered into a position about 1/3 of the way down for most the entire show except intermission. This sort of made the field of view into a nice rectangle.The sides of the centerpiece where all the action takes place were covered in black curtains, but this worked well for the entrances and exits to/from off stage. And off to the side was the desk and chair where Trevor (light and sound technician cast) sat.

The folks sitting around me had NO idea what the show was about, only that is was a comedy, so I explained a little to them without giving anything big away. About that time the “Director” of the Play came right up to where I was sitting in the balcony and starting chatting with us. The “stage manager” and two cast members were all over the balcony looking for, I presume, the “lost dog”.

Once the show started it was non-stop fun, the folks around me laughing along with the entire audience, which ate this show up. Overall I’d say those in attendance loved the show, but I did see one lady with her young kid leaving at intermission. Maybe she didn’t realize the show isn’t really kid-oriented.

I included some pictures. The National Tour window card I bought, but I must say I like the Broadway version much better, which I’ll buy online somewhere."

I'm planning on taking my 10 year old next week, should I reconsider? It's being billed as a family show here. She's seen a lot of theater and I thought it sounded like something she'd really enjoy. 

 

[VotePeron]

jenhum said: "I'm planning on taking my 10 year old next week, should I reconsider? It's being billed as a family show here. She's seen a lot of theater and I thought it sounded like something she'd really enjoy."

Take your daughter! I believe the poster was referring to the fact that the show isn't made for kids, and is very much comedy that can be enjoyed by adults. It is British, but I think the slapstick nature will translate well to your daughter, especially if she has a history with theater!

[jenhum]

VotePeron said: "jenhum said: "I'm planning on taking my 10 year old next week, should I reconsider? It's being billed as a family show here. She's seen a lot of theater and I thought it sounded like something she'd really enjoy."

Take your daughter! I believe the poster was referring to the fact that the show isn't madeforkids, and is very much comedy that can be enjoyed by adults. It is British, but I think the slapstick nature will translate well to your daughter, especially if she has a history with theater!"

Perfect, thanks! Slapstick humor sounds right up her alley :). I'm excited to see it!

[dmwnc1959]

jenhum said: "I'm planning on taking my 10 year old next week, should I reconsider? It's being billed as a family show here. She's seen a lot of theater and I thought it sounded like something she'd really enjoy.”

 

Your kid may indeed love this with her history of theater going, especially if she’s more aware of and in tune with Live theater.

As VotePeron said, the show definitely isn’t made for kids, and there may be some of the humor and actions during the show that’s over most younger kid’s heads as to why it’s happening. 

And I’m not sure if the “Director” of the show was kidding or not, but he did mention in his “tirade”, while demanding the audience to quit laughing, that why can’t we be like the kid in the front row who hasn’t laughed in 45 minutes. 

I saw very, very few kids before the show, during intermission, or leaving the theater at the end of the show. That’s not to say there weren’t a few here and there. 

Do come back after you’ve seen the show and let us know how your daughter enjoyed it. :)

 

[dmwnc1959]

More BWW articles with pictures...

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Exclusive-THE-PLAY-THAT-GOES-WRONG-Opens-In-Pittsburgh-20180921

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Get-A-First-Look-at-THE-PLAY-THAT-GOES-WRONG-National-Tour-Cast-In-Action-20180924

[bear88]

My feelings about the play, which I saw Tuesday night during the first night of its weeklong stop in San Francisco, were a bit more mixed than some of you. Too many jokes played out too long or too repeatedly for my taste, and I think it would have worked better as a tighter one-act show. (There may have been practical reasons they didn't do it that way.) It's just a matter of personal taste. But there were definitely some hilarious segments, and Ned Noyes is brilliant as the brother/gardener.

It's a unique show, certainly worth seeing on tour for the right price.