Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor
This past weekend, the Berry Community got to experience the skill, craftsmanship and creativity that went into the Berry College Theatre Company (BCTC) production of “The 39 Steps.” While patiently awaiting the company’s next performance, consider checking out another local theatre production. Rome Little Theatre will be performing “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13. at 2:30 p.m.
Rome Little Theatre’s website, romelittletheatre.com, describes the show as a “1920s whodunit that has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).”
With a play as action-packed as this one, it is no surprise that a lot of work is going into this performance. From the design and building of the set to the meticulous crafting of costumes to the repeated rehearsals of scenes, this show has many components that require teamwork from both cast and crew. In order to avoid anything really going wrong in “The Play That Goes Wrong,” stage manager and Berry alumna Allison Karch is coordinating with the cast and crew to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Left to right Trey Wilkerson, Logan Yerbey, James Swendsen, Alli Clark, and Robert Bunch take the stage.
“I am backstage calling the cues because this production has a lot of things for the crew to do that are highly important to the show,” Karch said “My job is to make sure we are doing things at the exact time that everyone’s expecting them, making sure I put marks on the stage for people to be in the right places when things happen, and just making sure things are done properly and safely and throughout the show by everyone involved.”
Aside from the more technical parts of theatre, every performance has its own creative process and unique challenges that bring the story to life. The show’s director and Berry alumnus, Chris Parker, shares how the play came together for his cast and crew.
“When it comes to tech and things of that nature, the set, lighting and sound designers talked about the concept of the show and what we wanted it to look and feel like,” Parker said. “With the actors, from our first rehearsal, I try to keep things pretty loose so that allows them to play off each other and find moments that they develop together.”
In order to make sure that Rome Little Theatre’s production of “The Play That Goes Wrong” was unique to its cast, Parker did not watch any other performances of the play. He did this because he did not want any decisions he made or did not make for the play to be influenced by other portrayals of the show.
Since “The Play That Goes Wrong” is a play about a play, it is interesting to see how the cast develops not only their characters but also their characters’ characters. Berry alumnus Trey Wilkerson, who plays Max in the show, shares his experience with developing his character.
“We’re playing actors who are playing characters, and something that Chris Parker has talked about a lot is the layers of the show,” Wilkerson said. “There have been a few times in rehearsals where I just bypass Max, and it’s like I’m Trey playing Max’s character, so I have to take a step back sometimes and that has been somewhat of a challenge but also really fun.”
Director of the Gate of Opportunity Scholarship, Lacey Herring, plays Annie, the stage manager in “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Herring shared what the most challenging part of the show has been.
Left to right Logan Yerbey, Alli Clark, and Lacey Herring put their all
into their performance.
“This show is a play that you have to do poorly very well because it is the play that goes wrong, so things are going to happen, but it’s not the play done badly,” Herring said. “Portraying a bad actor who’s trying really hard to be good is tough but fun as well”
This production truly is a labor of love. Every participant in the show is dedicated to their craft. With all the dedication, creativity and thought that has gone into this show, it’s sure to be an incredible performance. Don’t miss a chance to support your local theatre and many Berry alumni as they perform “The Play That Goes Wrong.”