The Play That Goes Wrong – by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Ayer, and Henry Shields of Mischief Theatre Company

Directed by Karen McDowell

Summary

Members of a local community theater attempt to produce a murder mystery play, but everything goes wrong. Key themes:
Improvisation, physical comedy, timing, pacing, caricature, exaggeration, humor.

Special considerations

Physical demands: this script requires actors to be able to stand, sit, squat, lift, push, pull, walk quickly, climb, fall down, and lay
down.

Intimacy: this script has two brief intimacy scenes that involve an exaggerated, comedic stage kiss; once between Max and Sandra,
and once between Trevor and Max. Actors have complete control over their individual intimacy boundaries and will engage in
ongoing dialogue with the directors to ensure informed consent throughout. No actor is disqualified from any role because of intimacy
boundaries.

Stunts: this script has a number of stunts, including a collapsing second floor, falling walls, fighting, falling through windows, and a
crashing elevator. Stunt choreography will be planned according to the needs/boundaries of individual actors. Set-based stunts will
be designed and monitored by a licensed architect.

DOWNLOAD THE DIRECTOR’S PACKET

-Includes audition sides

Audition structure

Monologue: Actors are asked to tell either a humorous personal anecdote OR a prepared humorous monologue of their choice. An
optional side is included, although actors are welcome to perform a different piece.
Improv games: Actors will be grouped and asked to play improv games as instructed. Examples of improv games can be found
here.

Group reading(s): Actors are asked to read from script sides included below. Actors should consider reading for as many roles as
possible to demonstrate range and variety.

Roles

All roles can be played by actors of any gender. Each character’s gender presentation is listed below.

Chris – any gender – any age Head of the drama society, the show’s director,and plays the Inspector. No intimacy.

Robert – any gender – any age Plays Thomas, Charles’s friend. No intimacy.

Dennis – any gender – any age Plays Perkins, Charles’s butler. No intimacy.

Max – any gender -any age Plays Cecil (Charles’s brother) and Arthur (Charles’s gardener). One intimacy scene with Sandra; an exaggerated, comedic stage kiss

Annie – any gender – feminine as Sandra – any age – Stage manager of the show, has to replace Sandra midway through. – No intimacy.

Trevor – any gender – feminine as Sandra – any age Technical director of the show. Has to replace Annie as Sandra midway. One intimacy scene with Max; an
exaggerated, comedic stage kiss as Sandra

Sandra – feminine – 20s-30s – Plays Florence, Charles’s fiance and Thomas’s sister. One intimacy scene with Max; an exaggerated, comedic stage kiss

Jonathan – masculine – 20s-30s – Plays Charles, the murder victim. No intimacy.

DOWNLOAD THE DIRECTOR’S PACKET

-Includes audition sides