‘Play That Goes Wrong’ promises big laughs

TEXARKANA, Texas — “The Play That Goes Wrong,” Texarkana Repertory Co.’s latest production, could be called “Murphy’s Law: A Comedy.”

Everything that can go wrong for the characters does just that in the popular play that TexRep Artistic Director Michael Cooper says “may very well be the funniest show I’ve ever directed.” Performances begin today.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” follows the antics of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, who are trying their very best to stage a production of a 1920s murder mystery. As miscues and misfortunes cascade during a performance, the troupe’s efforts become increasingly hilarious.

“From the beginning, things go wrong in every possible way. Lines getting messed up, things falling off the walls. A couple of people actually get knocked unconscious. And it’s pretty darn hysterical,” Cooper said.

The set is a character in the play, providing plenty of opportunity for Buster Keaton-esque slapstick, Cooper said. He gave kudos to set designer Chris Polson, whose work he called “an engineering feat.”

“By the end of the show it has completely fallen apart — and it’s a two-story set,” Cooper said.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a 2012 play by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields of London’s Mischief Theatre Company. It won Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards and later had a successful run on Broadway.

“If you don’t love it, there’s really something wrong with you. Because it’s nonstop,” Cooper said.

(TexRep will stage six performances of “The Play That Goes

Wrong” Feb. 10-12 and Feb. 17-19 at Texarkana College’s Stilwell Theatre, 2500 N. Robison Road. Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit texrep.org.)