The Play That Goes Wrong

Act One

Before the play begins, the stage crew of the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are making last minute adjustments to the set. However, they run out of time fixing the mantelpiece and are forced to take it off stage with them. Chris, the head of the drama company, announces the commencement of the murder mystery, “Murder at Haversham Manor”, missing his spotlight as he does so. He alludes to their previous, disastrous attempts at putting on productions and the hilarious casting problems they have encountered before. He is therefore thrilled to introduce their latest production.

The play begins but the first cast member (Jonathan playing ‘Charles Haversham’) trips over in the dark during his entrance. When the lights come up, he freezes on the floor. The lights go down and suddenly come back up again, with Jonathan posed as dead on the chaise longue. Robert (playing ‘Thomas Colleymoore’) and Dennis (playing ‘Perkins the Butler’) try to make their entrance but the door is stuck.