Everything Went Right at Playmasters Theatre Workshop

by Aimee Renna

I had the pleasure of attending “The Play That Goes Wrong: High School Edition” at Playmasters Theater Workshop in Bensalem, PA. Don’t misunderstand, this was a fully adult production. The only reason that they must put “High school Edition” on their playbill is because they did a modified version of the script that does not require a second floor, something that would have been impossible in their single story stage space. Rights for both versions of the show are provided by Dramatist Play Service under license from Mischief Worldwide Ltd.. It is a play within play, where the Corney Drama Society puts on a performance of The Murder at Haversham Manor. Just as it is any theatre performer’s worst nightmare, the performance does not exactly go as planned and instead many things in the play ‘go wrong’. There are so many things to love about this performance; I will start with the production staff whose work is the very essence of the show’s success- or lack there of. Before I get there, I must give a nod to president Bob Clothier who leaned into the schtick during his curtain speech and made it all the more enjoyable.

The group is led by the fearless Director, Rich Hall, who is listed in some capacity under nearly every part of the production staff (Lights and Sound, Set Design/Construction, and Sound Design). His deep embeddedness in every aspect of the show shines clearly as everything is so smoothly tied together. Stage Managers Gina and Rob Drigant are also key members of the team as without them, the vast amount of technical effects would be hopeless. It is thanks to the set builders who created the last member of the cast -the set- that the show is so deeply enjoyable. Their names are as follows: Rich Hall, Tom Dinardo, Joe Szumila, Stan Karuzis, Mark Stanislavov, Ken Mandel, James Young, Colleen Mackle, Jeremy Messer, Bob Clothier, Kathy Garofano, and Laura Young. With a keen eye, you’ll notice that majority of the set builders are  members of the cast. Sound design is covered by Hall and Stan Karuzis, who plays the Sound Designer in the show as well. Every member of the stage crew is also a member of the performance and will be discussed momentarily. 

The stage crew of this performance are heavily featured in the show due to the nature of its story telling. They include Laura Young (playing Annie, the fictional Stage Manager), Gina Drigant (real Stage Manager), Rob Drigant (also real Stage Manager), Jared Drigant, Angela Pascali, and Stan Karuzis (real Sound and Light Operator…I think). The comedic timing between this group is impeccable, especially in moments of purely physical comedy. When Young and Karuzis are pulled into the show to perform, they are both profoundly funny. While it would be many people’s nightmare to be pulled to cover mid-performance, it seems that these two were born to live this honor. L. Young in particular portrayed the scared Stage Manager finding her voice so well that I found myself wondering if she usually is behind the scenes or in them, which led me to her bio. It is wonderful to witness someone so good at both jobs that they can blend them together so seamlessly and create such an enjoyable character.  I cannot imagine the amount of rehearsal went into every technical effect in this performance but I must offer a very loud applause as every single one seemed to go without a hitch. 

Within the story, the six remaining performers play both an actor and their role within their murder mystery. In an attempt at clarity, I will be listing their real name, then their actor name, then their character name. I will begin with Laura Buttenbusch, playing Sandra who performs as Florence Colleymoore. Buttenbusch brings to life a sensational leading lady in Sandra, beautifully embracing the duality of the role as she must quickly pivot between the reality in Sandra and the lofty maiden that is Florence. She also creates an excellent blueprint for Young and Karuzis to attempt to follow when they must step in. Ken Mandel plays Robert performing as Florence’s brother, Thomas Colleymoore. Mandel explodes with energy the moment that he enters the stage and brings an excellent series of facial expressions throughout the performance. In Mandel’s bio, he mentions that this is his first production since 1996 and I very much hope it is not the last. He is quick with his wit, works beautifully with his fellow castmates, and keeps the audience well engaged. Colleen Mackle, playing Christine who then plays Inspector Carter, is another who rivets the audience from the moment their feet hit the boards. Mackle perfectly encapsulates that exasperated director whose show falls apart around them, especially when it starts literally falling apart around her. As the show’s antics escalate she mimics the rising blood pressure beautifully in a way that is equal parts stressful and relatable. These three bounce their lines off one another in a very well developed rhythm. Adding the other members of the cast further this rhythm even further until it is a near-perfect cacophony.

James Young, playing Max, brings two characters to life: Cecil Haversham and Arthur the gardener. J. Young’s comedic timing is perfectly in stride with the trio who came before him, continuing the strength of this plucky ensemble even further. I particularly loved his sword fight and the chaos that ensued after. It is clear that J. Young is a slapstick scholar, especially when accompanied by others who show similar levels of mastery. Frank Haynes, portraying Jonathan as Charles Haversham, proves that even a dead body can be hilarious. This is because Charles Haversham starts out the show dead on the chaise longue. Johnathan, the character portraying Mrs. Haversham, is of course very much alive and must interact with his cast mates in a purely Penn and Teller sort of relationship, though I guess a better comparison would be Weekend and Bernie’s. He is consistently stepped on, pushed, and prodded all taking it in stride with the stoic nature of the recently deceased. When he returns later on, he is immediately captivating, rushing into the space and creating a dramatic contrast to how he had to perform before. Finally, there is Mark Stanislavov who brings Perkins to life through fictional actor, Dennis. I cannot help but adore Perkins in the way that he portrays him. If everyone in this show is a citizen of Silly-town, Stanislavov is the proud and loyal mayor and I would happily vote in his re-election. It is deeply admirable to watch someone commit so much of themselves to their performance and a mystery where he gets the energy. 

In its entirety, this show is an absolute pleasure to watch. It is fast, it is funny, and it keeps you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed every minute of this performance and honestly can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard at a piece of theatre. Every member of this cast is maintaining such a high caliber performance, that it is easy to remember that you are not sitting in a professional theatre in Philadelphia or New York. It is a wonderful reminder that you can find good theater anywhere, even in the middle of Neshaminy State Park. While their first weekend has ended, they have two entire weekends of performances remaining, running September 18th-October 4th. Tickets can be found at: www.playmasterstheater.com .