Things go awry in comedy produced by Flathead High School

Chaos takes center stage as Flathead High School Theatre presents the wildly funny comedy “The Play That Goes Wrong” Feb. 26, 27 and 28. 

“The Play That Goes Wrong” is a fast-paced comedy that follows an unlucky theater group attempting to perform a serious murder mystery — with disastrous results.   

The story centers on the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, an amateur acting troupe presenting a theatrical production of “The Murder at Haversham Manor,” a 1920s-style whodunit. Before the play even begins, problems arise — props break, actors argue and backstage chaos spills onto the stage. 

Once the show starts, things only get worse. Actors forget lines, miss entrances and struggle to stay in character. Set pieces collapse, doors won’t open, and props disappear or malfunction. Characters are accidentally knocked unconscious, forcing other actors to step in and continue the play — whether they’re ready or not. Despite the constant mistakes, the cast refuses to stop. Determined to finish the performance, they push forward, even as the stage literally falls apart around them. The murder mystery itself becomes nearly impossible to follow, but the commitment of the performers turns every failure into a moment of comedy. 

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, the play is a celebration of live theater, showing what happens when dedication meets total disaster.   

Director Liz Sykora said the play may be one of the most daunting shows she’s taken on in more than a decade. 

“Every moment has to be carefully crafted so that ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ doesn't actually go wrong,” Sykora said. 

While the cast includes eight actors, there are layers to the roles they play. 

“... each actor is playing an actor, who is playing a character or two.  It's like a play — about a play — about play,” Sykora said. 

The cast includes Grayson Vallette, Lev Strong, Hunter Mitchell, Robert Brantley, Caleb O’Connell, Boston Jackson, Helena Pershall and Aubrie Mannon.  

Working side by side with the cast is the production and stage crew which includes: Paisley Smith, Teegan O’Donnell, Emmah Sawyer, Collin Lincoln, Emma Feeney, Jacob Linden, Maddie Simms, Tatum McGuire, Lillian Anderson, Myla Johnson, Adalicia O’Brien, Matthew Ottman, Cosmo DeYoung, Tabor Opper, Matea Wong, Alexa Correll, Kaydence Phillips, Zoey Franklin and Akaiyan Fuller. 

“Our onstage tech crew and technicians make this show happen. It is probably the heaviest we have relied on these roles,” Sykora said. “In a typical show, if a light cue is missed or someone forgets to bring out a prop, no big deal. In this show, it may have huge consequences."   

Performances start at 6:27 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theatre at the high school, 644 Fourth Ave. W., Kalispell. 

Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $6 for children, students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased online at GoFan.co, at the FHS main office, Photo Video Plus and at the door.