By Sarah Duarte

The Cornley Drama Society is newly in residence at Hillbarn Theatre with their production of The Murder at Haversham Manor. At the helm is the President of the Cornley Drama Society and director of the show, Chris Bean. (Also, do note that Mr. Bean is also acting in the show, serving as set designer, costume designer, prop maker, press agent, dramaturg, voice coach, dialect coach, and fight choreographer—a very busy gent.)

As you enter the Hillbarn Theatre, you are immediately immersed in the world of the Cornley Drama Society, the fictional theatre troupe putting on The Murder at Haversham Manor. The hall leading into the theater introduces guests to a bevy of posters from past productions (for example: James and the Peach—after the troupe couldn’t obtain a giant peach and the regular-sized peach went bad). Before the production even begins, members of the troupe are searching for a missing dog, Winston. The actors ask audience members if they’ve seen him, warn them not to chase him, and hand out flyers. In short, before the show even begins, the show has begun—and I was thoroughly entertained just watching how effortlessly the actors established their characters and the tone of the evening.

Having seen The Play That Goes Wrong at least four times now, Hillbarn did not disappoint. The ensemble cast was masterful at physical comedy and had the audience laughing out loud by the end of the pre-show speech. I consider it a major victory that so many audience members—myself included—had seen this show multiple times, yet we were still thoroughly entertained.

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Introducing us to the show, the setting, and the carefully rehearsed chaos about to unfold, Michael Champlin does an exceptional job taking on the role of Chris Bean. He offers a version of Chris filled with dry humor and expert-level improvisational skills, striking a perfect balance between exasperation and quick wit that allows the audience to feel like a joyful part of the chaos.

Lucy Swinson is the lone female in the “official” production of Murder at Haversham Manor, playing Sandra. She brings a fierceness to the role that I hadn’t seen before. Within the same scene, she effortlessly shifts between a desperate seductress and a frustrated actress. Additionally, as the performer most involved in the show’s physical comedy—and often being thrown around—she handled every moment with impressive skill. Sandra is placed in many ridiculous situations, and Lucy pulls them off seamlessly. Her performance is further elevated by her dynamic with Annie, played by Vivienne Truong. Vivienne does an exceptional job transitioning from reluctant tech crew member to determined leading lady willing to fight for her place (often literally) as Sandra’s replacement.

With perhaps the fewest lines in the cast—but some of the longest-running jokes—is the murder victim Jonathan, played by Fred Pitts. Is he dead? Isn’t he dead? Will he ever enter at the correct time? Fred brings fresh life to these recurring gags through impeccable physical timing and hysterical facial expressions.

A true ensemble effort, Andrew Cope, Paul Henry, River Bermudez Sanders, and Ted Zoldan round out the troupe with consistently hilarious performances. And while unofficial, the set and costumes feel like cast members in their own right. As the show progresses, everything—from the set and props to costumes (and perhaps even sanity)—gradually falls apart. The real success lies in how seamlessly this is executed, making it all appear spontaneous and reactive to the chaos onstage. Scenic design by Kevin Davies and Eric Olson provides a beautiful and functional playground for the actors, while Nolan Miranda’s costumes are both practical and comedically effective—a costumer’s dream compliment, I’m sure.

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If you’re in need of a good laugh, I highly recommend catching The Play That Goes Wrong at Hillbarn Theatre.

The show runs from through May 17 and tickets can be purchased here.