O’Dowd’s fall production of The Play That Goes Wrong brings slapstick comedy to life with energy and charm, capturing the spirit of this internationally celebrated show. Originally written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, the play follows a fictional drama troupe as they attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery—only for things to spiral hilariously out of control. From missed cues to collapsing sets, the O’Dowd cast kept audiences engaged with their playful timing, transforming each mishap into an opportunity for laughs. Performances started Friday, November 8, and run through Sunday, November 17. This must-see O’Dowd production honors the play’s tradition of carefully crafted chaos, showing off both comedic timing and teamwork. 

As soon as the audience enters the James T. Bill ’55 Theater, their attention is grabbed by wandering cast mates engaging in their characters. They begin to fight over different production pieces until cast member Triscella Saucedo-Duncan ’25 invites an audience member onto the stage to help them fix a mantle piece. 

Then, the play begins as Murphy Aldrich ’26 playing Chris Bean takes the stage and presents their play, The Murder at Haversham Manor. The performance begins with several minor inconveniences, like stumbles on the stage, the mantle breaking, and a misplacement of beverages. These mistakes added a level of detail that kept the audience on their toes and ensured a continuous stream of laughter throughout the production. 

The intentionality of errors throughout the play brings life to commonly lifeless things like the set itself and dead bodies. Brody Cusack’s ’25 performance of Jonathan Harris, the first murder victim, incorporates unexpected humor that this returning cast member often brings to O’Dowd theater. As the chaos escalates through the missing dog, falling and revolving doors, increasingly frustrated techies, physical fights between competing cast members, dramatic episodes, and developing love interests between characters that stray from plot lines, the audience remains on the edge of their seats. Cast members like Eli Morse ’27 and Leila Arizmendi’s ’25 animated portrayal of emotion throughout the storyline bring comedic relief as tension builds. 

Several members of the O’Dowd community, like student Penelope Walton ’26, say, “It was really impressive. Not just how the actors played very believable characters but also how the set was made. It felt like you were very immersed in the play because of how you saw the fake techies and there was no point where people weren’t laughing. It felt very real and it felt like it wasn’t just a school play.” Sarah Richardson, parent of cast member, Olivia Henry ’26, said it was “hilarious” and “laugh out loud funny.” 

Overall, this play was a massive success from its entertaining mishaps to the humorous changes in actors. If you want to support the O’Dowd Theatre Department and have a good laugh, join them on their second weekend as they perform, The Play that Goes Wrong.