Disclaimer: This author worked on building parts of the set for “The Play That Goes Wrong.”
ODURep is producing the “Play That Goes Wrong” as the second of its comedic season.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a satirical play within a play about a troupe of unfortunate actors who attempt to put on a murder mystery while their set crumbles around them.
The cast of “The Play That Goes Wrong” has been rehearsing since Jan 2024 to safely and properly perform the stunts involved with the production, including performing on a crooked stage, falling out of a window and falling off the second story of a set.
“We’re practicing six days a week. Since February, I believe. We were practicing four to five days a week but tech is coming up, so we’re doing six now,” said Avi Raschdorf, who plays a character called Jonathan.
The set design team, led by Jim Lyden, has also been hard at work building a set that is designed to gradually fall apart during the performance. Using items like weighted sandbags and magnets, the run crew will carefully destroy the set around the actors each night.
The comedy is a welcome change of pace from ODURep’s previous line of dramatic shows. Raschdorf says he’s excited for audiences to experience something comedic for a change.
“I’m really excited to be playing something that’s kind of silly […] I want to hear laughs in the audience instead of sniffles,” he said.
“The Play That Goes Wrong” will run Apr. 4-6 and Apr. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. and Apr 14 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here and start at $10 for ODU students.
