Review: PLAY ON! at Twin Lakes Playhouse in Mountain Home
This play goes wrong sells out Twin Lakes Playhouse
Twin Lakes Playhouse in Mountain Home delivered a laugh-out-loud hit with Play On! by Rick Abbot, and honestly, the longer the show went on, the harder the audience laughed. Running April 17 through May 3, this delightful backstage comedy proved that chaos can be absolutely magical when it is placed in the hands of a committed cast and creative team willing to fully embrace the madness. Under the direction of first-time director Vance Jones, with Assistant Director Josselyn Obregon helping guide the mayhem, the production turned theatrical disaster into comedic gold.
And audiences clearly agreed. The show became such a hit in Mountain Home that several performances sold out, which comes as no surprise considering how much joy and laughter filled the theatre each night. For those unfamiliar with the show, Play On! follows a community theatre group attempting to put on a murder mystery called Murder Most Foul while everything that could possibly go wrong absolutely does. The playwright keeps rewriting the script during rehearsals, the actors can barely remember their lines, technical cues fail spectacularly, and personalities clash at every turn. It is essentially a love letter to every chaotic rehearsal process theatre people know all too well, and that familiarity is exactly what makes it so incredibly funny.
What made the evening especially enjoyable was the sense that everyone on stage was having as much fun as the audience. Comedic ensemble work requires trust, rhythm, and fearlessness, and this cast leaned fully into the ridiculousness.
Joanne Helms as Gerry anchored the production beautifully with exasperated determination as she attempted to keep the collapsing production afloat. Her stage helpers Pat McKaig as Aggie and Anne Johnson as Louise captured the frantic energy of backstage theatre panic perfectly. And then there was the medling writer Phyllis Montague, played by Olivia Potter, who embraced the melodrama with hilarious flair and handled the role with impressive confidence and charisma. We were told that due to an illness, Karen Maupin was unable to perform the role, and Potter stepped in to save the day, doing an absolutely awesome job. Unless you had been told beforehand, you never would have guessed she had stepped into the production under those circumstances. Her commitment to the comedy and her ability to keep pace with the escalating madness was incredibly impressive.
Mike Horberg as Lord Dudley had several moments that drew huge laughs from the crowd, but what I loved most was how supportive his character was of his “wife” Lady Margaret, played by Karen McKaig. Even while the other characters, in their roles as Henry and Polly, were teasing Lady Margaret, Horberg maintained this wonderfully loyal and protective energy toward her that became unexpectedly sweet amid all the chaos. Karen McKaig as Lady Margaret brought wonderful personality to the role, mixed with pomp and sass. She was a true diva.
Kyria Johnson as Doris the Maid/Marla added delightful reactions that helped elevate the absurdity happening around her. What really stood out about Johnson’s performance was how well she played angst. Every frustrated sigh and exasperated reaction landed perfectly, like a true teenager.
Gabe Potter as Saul added even more humor through exaggerated physical comedy, throwing himself fully into the chaos with animated reactions and over-the-top movements that made already funny scenes even funnier. His willingness to heighten every awkward moment added an extra layer of silliness that fit the production perfectly.
Andrea McInnis as Diana Lassiter gave a performance that fit seamlessly into the show’s wonderfully unhinged energy. She had a confident stage presence and matched the escalating chaos around her with excellent comedic instincts. McInnis delivered her lines with a sharp wit and expressive flair that kept the audience engaged, while her reactions to the surrounding madness often became just as funny as the dialogue itself.
However, my starry-heart eyes go to Sullivan Dye, who effortlessly bounced between Billy Carewe and Stephen Sellars with incredible comedic charm. By simply lowering his voice, flashing those exaggerated heartthrob eyes, and fully committing to the over-the-top leading man persona, Dye created some of the funniest moments of the night. Watching him switch gears so smoothly between the characters became a running delight throughout the production, and his physical comedy paired with his confident stage presence made him an absolute standout.
Before the curtain even officially rose, audiences were already energized for the evening ahead. To pump up the crowd, director Vance Jones burst onto the stage with an energetic performance of “This is the Greatest Show,” immediately setting the playful tone for the night and getting the audience fully invested in the fun. Then, during one of the act breaks, illusionist Jeff Pyzocha wowed patrons with a clever rings routine and card magic that kept the entertainment rolling while scenes were reset. The surprises did not stop there either. To cap off the evening, Assistant Director Josselyn Obregon brought the house up one final time with a spirited rendition of Shakira’s “Zoo,” sending audiences out smiling and buzzing from the nonstop entertainment.
Huge credit goes to Vance Jones for steering such a technically demanding comedy as a first-time director. Farce can be one of the hardest genres to stage because every second depends on precision, and Jones, with assistance from Josselyn Obregon, showed a strong understanding of pacing and momentum.
Visually, the production fully embraced the exaggerated comedy of the piece. The set itself became more and more was elaborate as the show moved into the other acts. Every detail added to the fun, giving the actors plenty of opportunities for dramatic entrances, awkward mishaps, and chaotic movement throughout the show.
The costumes also helped establish each eccentric personality, but I especially loved the wigs. They added an extra layer of over-the-top humor to the already chaotic world of the show and perfectly matched the heightened personalities of the characters.
Twin Lakes Playhouse continues to prove how valuable community theatre is to the arts culture of North Central Arkansas, and I love how supportive their community is with this theatre. By the final scenes, the audience at Twin Lakes Playhouse was roaring with laughter as they embraced every ounce of absurdity and delivered an evening packed with genuine joy. We all had the best time, and I can't wait to
see what's next.
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