The show must go on…Even when characters go missing, a corpse won’t stay dead, and slapstick humor and mishaps galore occur.
Life is too short to be serious all the time! For this reason, comedy is a cherished genre. Farce, one of the most popular forms of comedy, is leveraged by the writers of The Play That Goes Wrong. Farce involves precise comedic timing, the ability to trust one another, and the opportunity to engage in hijinks that enliven the audience with laughter…Think Monty Python and The Three Stooges.
A farce tells its story by using highly exaggerated plots and characters, including the following key elements:
~ A highly incomprehensible plot containing a series of random, or loosely related, events. I encourage you to sit back and be entertained by the craziness on stage. Try not to overthink it. (For example, why did the Cornley Theatre Company install an actual elevator as part of its set?)
~ Characters who display stereotypical personality traits. True or False: We had a really hard time tapping into our inner Diva?
~ Exaggerated physical comedy and physical expression through gags. SPOILER ALERT: All the blood on stage is fake (knock on wood) and the sets are rigged to fall apart.
Rehearsals for this show were filled with smiles and laughter. Thank you to the cast for its trust as we explored physical comedy (it was fun to polish off my stage combat skills) and for your patience as our set came to life (literally). Your endless support of one another and your close bonds are inspirational and warm our hearts.
To the crew for its dedication and hard work in creating the most robust fall show set in CP history; thank you for embodying the words of “How I Met Your Mother’s” Barney Stinson: “Challenge accepted.” Stage Managers, Paige Sarro and Kara Murray…you rock! Thank you for the endless hours you spent taking blocking notes, running lines, creating our props list, and for being our right-hand ladies! All of you – cast and crew - did an amazing job.
I am always thankful for the fabulous production team and my partners in crime who continue to keep the Colonial Players traditions alive: Melissa Downer (Class of 1994), Jeramie Iannelli (Class of 2003), Josh Samors, Jordan Scones (Class of 2006), Lindsey Dale (Class of 2010), Cooper Smith (Class of 2015), and Jen Crea. I am honored to work with such a great team and to call you all friends.
Thank you to our Colonial Players parents for your support of our program and your childrens’ love of theatre. A special thank you to the PWHS and Colonial School District Administrations for your continued support of our production and the Colonial Players program. And, finally, to the woman who says she has no sense of humor (my Mom), the man who always makes her laugh (my Dad), and to the man who has made me laugh and smile since the day we met (my husband): thank you for your endless support as I continue to explore my passion for theatre.
Please join us again for this show or our spring musical, Urinetown!
Fondly,
Valerie Cucinotta Collado (Class of 1997)
