Central Campus Theatre presents “The Play That Goes Wrong”

On most nights in the theatre, actors work to avoid mistakes. In San Jacinto College’s upcoming production of “The Play That Goes Wrong”, mistakes are the point.

Presented by the Central Campus Department of Theatre and Film, the comedy follows the fictional Cornley University Drama Society as its actors attempt to perform a 1920s murder mystery, “The Murder at Haversham Manor”. But nearly everything that can go wrong does.

“We chose this comedic play for this season to entertain our community,” said Donna Taylor, theatre and film adjunct faculty and director of the production.

The humor comes from watching the fictional production unravel, but making those moments work onstage takes more than simply pretending to make mistakes. For the students bringing the show to life creating that chaos requires careful preparation and precise coordination.

“The actors and the technical crew have to be very connected in their timing to make sure the play flows smoothly,” Taylor said.

The award-winning comedy features a set designed to fall apart throughout the performance, including collapsing walls, breaking props, and sword fights. Audiences will also see an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that refuses to stay convincingly dead, and actors who struggle with their lines while navigating a production that seems determined to fall apart.

“The biggest challenge for this play is having the story told without the audience having concern for the safety of the actors,” Taylor said.

That balance is part of what makes the production different from a traditional comedy. The audience knows the actors are performing, but the fictional actors within the play are desperately trying to convince everyone that their production is still under control.

The result is a comedy built on the tension between what the audience knows is coming and how the characters react when something inevitably goes wrong.

For San Jacinto College theatre students, the production also provides an opportunity to explore the importance of ensemble work. Actors and technical crew members have to trust one another and understand exactly when to move, react, deliver a line or trigger a technical element.

“In many ways, the technical design becomes another character in the show,” said Liz Freese, technical theatre professor and the department’s scenic and costume designer. “That makes it an exciting challenge for both our students and our audiences.”

When everything works, the audience sees chaos, but behind the scenes, the students have created precision.

Taylor hopes the production will give the community a chance to enjoy that work while simply having a good time.

Audiences of all ages will enjoy this show. The play is full of how things can go wrong in a performance. Something everyone will find humor in and enjoy laughing about the reaction of the cast.

“The Play That Goes Wrong” will be presented Sept. 23-26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 27 at 2:30 p.m. in Slocomb Auditorium (C12) on San Jacinto College’s Central Campus. General admission tickets are $10 at the door. Tickets purchased by Sept. 22 are $8.

Learn more about San Jac Central Theatre and Film

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About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.