Peter Pan Goes Wrong: a theatre review by Hila Tsor
The title of the play ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ is quite self-explanatory, revealing the main premise of the play. ‘Gone Wrong’ theatre productions are not uncommon but are always full of mischief and mayhem, this being no exception.
The play completely breaks the fourth wall, with stagehands actors directly engaging with the audience prior to the beginning of the play, asking them if they can help or have a hammer. This engagement with the audience continues, with the audience being taught to argue with the actors over a certain line, and to boo and hiss at Caption Hook, who responds to this. The play becomes an interactive experience altogether.
The play-within-a-play descends into both hilarity and madness, reminding me of the infamous Murphy’s law quote ‘whatever can go wrong, will go wrong’. Whether its stage lights, actors forgetting their lines or technological disruption, at almost every single moment there is something that goes very, very wrong. This, of course, makes the play is utterly hilarious, a pure laugh-out-loud experience, leaving the audience in stitches.
The majority of the humour comes from the silly gags and slapstick such as failed flights and landings, constantly bumping into objects and even actors incurring injuries.
The play overstimulated my senses with its quirky characters, scandalous affairs and secrets, resulting in complete chaos by the end.
Overall, it was a delightfully funny play that is playful, family friendly and doesn’t require much thinking. Definitely a good one if you’re looking for some laughs.
Peter Pan Goes Wrong : a play by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields of the Mischief Theatre Company (creators of The Play That Goes Wrong). The premise, as in The Play That Goes Wrong, is that the actors and crews are members of the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society presenting their production of the J.M. Barrie classic Peter Pan, and ruin it through amateurism and personal rivalries.
Lyric Theatre, Sydney
3/5
In my 61 years, I’ve never seen a funnier play than Peter Pan Goes Wrong!