The Play That Goes Wrong
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2018–2019 SEASON THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG BY HENRY LEWIS, JONATHAN SAYER AND HENRY SHIELDS CONTENTS DIRECTED BY MELISSA RAIN ANDERSON 2 The 411 3 A/S/L & HTH 4 FYI 6 B4U 7 RBTL, IRL 8 F2F At The Rep, we know HOW TO BE THE BEST AUDIENCE EVER! that life moves fast— TAKE YOUR SEAT okay, really fast. But An usher will seat your class as a group, and often we have we also know that a full house with no seats to spare, so be sure to stick with some things are your school until you have been shown your section in the worth slowing down theatre. for. We believe that live theatre is one of those pit stops worth making and are excited that you are going to stop SILENCE IS GOLDEN by for a show. To help you get the most bang for your buck, Before the performance begins, be sure to turn off your cell we have put together WU? @ THE REP—an IM guide that will phone and watch alarms. If you need to talk or text during give you everything you need to know to get at the top of your intermission, don’t forget to click off before the show theatergoing game—fast. You’ll find character descriptions resumes. (A/S/L), a plot summary (FYI), biographical information (F2F), BREAK TIME historical context (B4U), and other bits and pieces (HTH). Most This performance includes an intermission, at which time importantly, we’ll have some ideas about what this all means you can visit the restrooms in the lobby. Intermission is only IRL, anyway. 15 minutes though, so hurry back to your seat. SNACK TIME There is no food or drink permitted inside the theatre, so make sure you finish your snacks in the lobby before you enter the house. NOW HEAR THIS Just as you can see and hear the actors, they can see and hear you. Any talking, even whispering, can be heard by The Teacher’s those around you and those onstage, so please wait until Lounge the show is over to chat. NO PAPARAZZI PLEASE In an effort to make our The theatre is a camera-free zone. Flash photography educational materials accessible interrupts the action onstage and is prohibited by to students and easy for educators Actors’ Equity Association rules. You can sneak a peek at to incorporate into the classroom, our production photos on The Rep’s website at repstl.org. study guide is written in a student-oriented format. We hope that you will circulate this guide among your TAKE A BOW students in the weeks preceding your visit to The Rep, Let the actors know you respect their work by responding encouraging them to browse it before and after class and to the curtain call at the end of the performance. Show your as time allows, using it as a launch point for both pre- and appreciation for a job well done through applause. post-performance discussions.You may also want to visit our website, www.repstl.org, for additional information THANKS FOR BEING A GREAT AUDIENCE! including activity suggestions and behind-the-scenes information. Any materials, either from this guide or from our website may be reproduced for use in the classroom. As always, we appreciate your making live REP EDUCATION DEPARTMENT theatre a part of your classroom experience and welcome your Director of Education Marsha Coplon feedback and questions. Associate Director of Education Sarah Brandt Education Programs Associate Brian Coats The Characters of The Murder at Haversham Manor CHARLES HAVERSHAM is found dead secret that could make her a suspect in his INSPECTOR CARTER is brought in during his engagement party at the murder investigation. to investigate the mysterious beginning of the play. circumstances of Charles Haversham’s CECIL HAVERSHAM, the dim-witted death. THOMAS COLLEYMOORE, an old school younger brother of Charles, had a friend of Charles, finds him dead and tempestuous relationship with his brother, ARTHUR THE GARDENER left Haversham suspects murder, setting the events of the causing concern for the others. Manor before the party, but provides some play in motion. important insight into the crime. The long-time butler of Haversham Manor, Thomas’s sister, FLORENCE PERKINS, is desperate to solve the murder COLLEYMOORE, has just gotten of his employer and friend. engaged to Charles, but she also harbors a The Characters of The Play That Goes Wrong JONATHAN HARRIS, a working model, Perkins is played by DENNIS TYME. The company’s stage manager, plays Charles Haversham. ANNIE TWILLOIL, also built the set MAX BENNETT , a human geography and for the performance. CHRIS BEAN is the hard-working head of crime major at Cornley University, pulls the Cornley Drama Society who also directs double-duty as Cecil Haversham and TREVOR WATSON, the company’s and appears in the performance of Arthur the Gardener lighting and sound operator, is only The Murder at Haversham Manor as working with the Drama Society for a The role of Florence Colleymoore is played Inspector Carter. course credit. by SANDRA WILKINSON, a long-time ROBERT GROVE is a three-year member member of the Cornley Drama Society. of the Cornley Drama Society and highly serious actor playing Thomas Colleymoore. PHILANTHROPIST: a person who seeks CADAVER: a corpse EMBEZZLE: to steal (often money to promote the welfare of others, belonging to a person or organization for especially by the generous donation of DISCREPANCY: an inconsistency, which one works) money to good causes or a lack of similarity between two or more facts. PERPETRATOR: a person who carries FACADE: an outward appearance that is out a criminal act maintained to conceal a less pleasant or PARRY: to ward off an attack with a creditable reality countermove CONFOUND: a dated term used to express anger or annoyance MELANCHOLY: a feeling of pensive BENEFICIARY: an heir or inheritor sadness, typically with no obvious cause FRAUDULENT: something obtained by CONSTITUTION: a person’s criminal deception VINTAGE: a period of origin or physical state with regard to health and strength manufacture AVARICE: extreme greed for wealth POPPYCOCK: nonsense ENQUIRIES: an official investigation CUCKOLD: used to describe a man whose wife or partner has been3 sexually MOROSE: sullen and ill-tempered unfaithful Before the show even begins, the set is feelings for her now-dead fiancé, as Charles falling apart. Annie, the stage manager, and doubted whether she really loved him at all. Trevor, the sound and lighting operator, are roaming around fixing things. There seems to Inspector Carter, played by Chris, finally enters. be a dog missing, as well as Trevor’s favorite He plans to do a full inspection of the body and Duran Duran CD. Finally, it is show time. Chris the process of removing it from the room Bean, the head of the Cornley Polytechnic begins. Perkins and Thomas attempt to lift Drama Society and director of tonight’s Charles from the chaise where he was found SPOILER performance of The Murder at Haversham dead, but they cannot. Instead they roll him ALERT! Manor, appears onstage to welcome the over, where he drops face-first onto the This synopsis audience. He mentions the Drama Society’s stretcher resting on the floor. When Perkins contains spoilers “illustrious” production history, and makes it and Thomas attempt to lift Charles, the canvas about the story of clear that this production, his directorial debut, stretcher rips. The two exit, pretending to carry the show. If you wish will be the best society show yet. the body out of the room. Inspector Carter to be completely follows. Suddenly, Jonathan, the actor playing surprised by what The play begins and right from the start, there Charles, rises from the floor and tries to exit you see on stage, are problems. Jonathan, the actor playing the the scene. you may want to wait deceased Charles Haversham, trips on his until after the play to entrance and appears very much not-dead on Cecil and Florence are the only two left in the read this article. stage. As the other actors prepare to enter, room. Alone, they reveal to the audience that they realize the door is jammed, and they they are having an affair. More calamity ensues cannot get in. The characters of Thomas as the plot progresses, including incorrect Colleymoore and Perkins finally enter. Thomas props, missed cues, and a real fire onstage—at tells Perkins to fetch Florence, Charles one point, Jonathan, having made his way Haversham’s fiance. All throughout this, there upstairs, falls from the upper level of the set to are mistakes: actors forget their lines, props are the lower level during a coughing fit. However, not where they are supposed to be, parts of the actors push on. Inspector Carter begins his the set are missing or falling down. Thomas investigation by questioning Perkins first. Then, Colleymoore decides to bring in Inspector he questions Florence. Near the end of her Carter, who he is sure will be able to get to the interrogation, Robert (playing Thomas) bursts manor through the snowstorm (indicated by into the room. Sandra (playing Florence) light bits of paper falling past the window). happens to be standing by the door at the time. It hits her and she collapses on the floor, Florence Colleymore finally arrives, but cannot unconscious. Suddenly, Robert, Chris, and Max get through the door. Instead, she attempts to (playing Cecil) are forced to try to finish the perform her scene through the window. scene with an unconscious castmate. Robert Haversham’s brother Cecil arrives and, with the exits, leaving Inspector Carter to question help of the stage manager Annie, manages to Cecil.