Enacting what may possibly be the longest death scene in theatrical history, Thomas Colleymoore (portrayed by Robert Bean, aka Emily Teti) succumbs to a deadly draught while fellow members of the Cornley Drama Society look on impatiently in ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ opening Friday, Jan. 12, at the Performing Arts Center. Photo by Thomas Graves
Scene from the Los Alamos Little Theater’s production of ‘The Play that goes Wrong’ at the Performing Arts Center. Photo by © Thomas Graves.
Scene from the Los Alamos Little Theater’s production of ‘The Play that goes Wrong’ at the Performing Arts Center. Photo by © Thomas Graves
BY KELLY DOLEJSI
Los Alamos Little Theater
Embrace the entropy in 2024 with Los Alamos Little Theater’s production of the internationally renowned “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
The show, opening this weekend, will run Jan. 12-27 at the Performing Arts Center, 1670 Nectar St. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There will be two matinees: 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 14 and Jan. 21.
Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, and directed by Seona Zimmermann, “The Play That Goes Wrong” presents the members of the hapless Cornley Drama Society as they attempt to perform a murder mystery.
“I really wanted to find a show that could appeal to all ages,” said Director Zimmermann. “I researched several plays when trying to choose. This one struck me right away — I found myself laughing just reading the script.”
Previously, Zimmerman directed a short play during last year’s 8 x 10s, “Sleeping Through Armageddon.” This marks her first time directing a full-length production.
“I knew I was taking on a big show for my first one but as I read various scripts, this one appealed to me so strongly, it really was my only choice,” she said. “I have also been very fortunate to have the support of a wonderful group of people who were as excited about this show as I was.”
This group includes Producers John Gustafson and Joy Reynolds, Lead Set Constructors Larry Cox and Brad Gregory, Stage Manager Iain May, Lead Set Painter Katy Korkos, and Props Master Terry Beery. Ken Milder and Kelly Dolejsi designed the lighting and Corey Skinner the sound.
The ensemble cast includes Josh Bartlett, Stacy Buck, Kaity Burke, Collin McDowell, Holly Robinson, Jim Sicilian, T Sullivan, Linda Taylor, Emily Teti, Jack Williams, and Allison Zastrow.
The set in “The Play That Goes Wrong” is as much a character as any person in the show, “going wrong” as often as the other characters in the Cornley Drama Society do.
“Building any two-story set at LALT is always a challenge,” Cox said. “The stage is only 100 inches high at the front curtain. But when the set has to ‘go wrong,’ it is even harder.”
He added, “Normally, a stage set has to stay intact for two to three weeks and look good from 30 feet away. This set just simply won’t stay intact past the opening curtain! I won’t spill the beans. Suffice it to say that things ‘go wrong’ with the set on a time scale much shorter than it took to build. Enjoy the show. I enjoyed building it.”
Korkos said the set “was a treat to work on, not least because of the joy-filled collaboration and outright silliness with my fellow set dressers Fran Stoval and Diane Stoffel. Seona let us run wild with color and texture. Don’t try this at home!”
“I have been very fortunate to have an amazing group of people supporting me who have helped build the set and all the effects,” Zimmermann said. “This is a phenomenal cast and crew. They function as one team working together to bring this show to life and I count myself extremely lucky to be working with all of them. I have never been in a show where everyone, including myself, has laughed so much during rehearsals.
“I want to thank the technical and creative folks who have been working hard to make the magic happen. This was a collaborative effort. This show never would have happened without a lot of hard work behind the scenes.”