Regina Performing Arts Centre – June 12-15, 2024

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

Ticket Price: $31.50 (https://rpac.na.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/15302)

Regina Little Theatre is wrapping up their 98th season with a hilarious and brilliantly staged version of the Broadway hit show “The Play that Goes Wrong.” The play is largely summed up in the title but in short, the play is about a small theatre company putting on a whodunnit play where…everything goes wrong.

Jean Taylor, an RLT veteran who has filled every RLT position that anyone could imagine, returns to her role as director and she has gotten the absolute best out of her cast. The members of the ensemble cast do a masterful job of portraying not just one character, but frequently a character playing a character. Damien Ryall and Madison Tyndale are wonderful as the in show Theatre Tech and Stage Manager.

Dan Carr, Josh Bekker, Terry Bell, Nicholas Fuzesy, Tionna Ackerman, and Sean Barschel as the actors of the play within a play all bring great skill and sincerity to roles their characters take very seriously. It is this sincerity that creates many of the funniest moments of the play. The very (intentionally) visible stage crew does a fantastic job of being where they need to be and setting off comedic moments with split second timing. And special mention must go to Set Designer Jim Dickenson and his team who have created a set that is virtually a character itself.

The work of the rest of the crew (too many to name here) from lighting and sound to set decoration and fight choreography is also evident throughout the production. The excellent staging and effects would not be possible without a small army of volunteers to bring this outrageous evening of antics all together.

If you can’t get to NYC to see this on Broadway, see it with this wonderful Regina cast instead. And if you can get to NYC, come see it anyway. Regina theatre doesn’t get better than this. It will have you howling with laughter. Five stars/5.