Investigating Theatrics: The Play That Goes Wrong at VHHS
- Ally Bryant
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
There’s an extra special feeling a person gets when sitting in a dimly lit theater, awaiting a masterpiece about to be put on the stage. The wonderfully crafted set, the perfectly designed lights, the sound of applause and laughter echoing throughout the theater. I’m sure most people have been awed by the beauty that is theater, but what about the production itself? Have you ever thought about what makes all the magic happen? All will soon be revealed as we discuss this year’s fall play at Vestavia: The Play That Goes Wrong. This play provides all the information needed to take a deep dive into theatrics because of its incredibly unique nature; it is both a learning experience and a mystery within itself.
About The Play That Goes Wrong
As stated previously, The Play That Goes Wrong is not like most plays. Although theater has abstract concepts, it is rehearsed almost to the point of perfection because the thing that makes a good show is its believability. Actors have to portray their character extremely well while reciting memorized lines, and that on its own is a daunting task, but The Play That Goes Wrong pushes actors even further. From set pieces breaking to people missing their entrances, this play is specifically designed to “go wrong” all while following a good old murder mystery script. Yes, this play does have a plot, but things continually “mess up” throughout the play. Even from the beginning, the director of the show---which is a role in the play---doesn’t seem to feel confident in the production, so one can only expect mishaps in the play if the title wasn’t already enough of an indication. With all of the “mistakes” written into the play, you get to see the actors constantly fixing the issues on stage, a glimpse into how a theater production is actually created and the rehearsal process leading up to the show.
The Technical Side of Theater
Most people don’t think about what it truly takes to put on a show while watching one, and if they do, most still have no idea the true amount of work it takes to produce a theatrical production. Shows are often rehearsed for months before the actual performance date, and it truly does take a long time to get everything together. I got to observe rehearsal during the first full run of the show this past week, but even that took months to prepare.
Outside of the actors’ rehearsal process, there are other elements that come into play as well. Lights, sounds, and costumes are not added until what’s called “tech week” (a week for the actors to run the show with all of the technical elements), but those have been in the works for months as well. Most people only associate plays with the actors, but the play couldn’t be put on without the crew (the people working backstage adding all of the special effects). By adding the lights, sounds, and costumes, they create the seemingly magical factor of the show.
The Play That Goes Wrong at Vestavia
I know for a fact this production will be truly stellar, and it would be such a missed opportunity if you didn’t witness it for yourself. Even though I only watched a little bit of the first full run, it was thoroughly entertaining. With the comedy-like nature of the show and all of the planned mishaps, I was definitely laughing in the small amount of time I was there. All of the cast, crew, and directors have done a spectacular job with this production, and I can’t wait to see the finished product. Well, the mostly finished product since this play will inevitably go wrong.
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