A play goes wrong

WAUPACA – The Waupaca High School’s upcoming production of “The Play that Goes Wrong” will be presented Feb. 14-16 at the school’s performing arts center. It is one of the most popular Broadway comedies of all time.
It is structured as a play-within-a-play that follows a company of actors trying to perform a 1920s mystery called “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” The cast and crew struggle to keep the show going despite collapsing sets, forgotten lines, disappearing props and missing actors.
The action is set in Charles Haversham’s private chambers, the night of his engagement party to a young, flirtatious Florence Colleymore. However, the night takes a sudden dramatic turn when Mary Colleymore, Charles’ old school friend, and Perkins, his loyal butler, fall upon a frightful sight.
“The physical comedy is hilarious! Amy Holterman [the play’s co-director] and I have never laughed so hard during the rehearsal process,” said Monica Reeves, the show’s director and WHS drama teacher.
As this year’s 30th anniversary of the high school’s all-school play, Reeves wanted to choose a show that reminded her of all the things that did go wrong on stage over the years.

“Whether it was a piece of set that had fallen, a character that lost her wig, or someone forgetting a prop, live theatre reminds us that no performance is perfect. It’s a perfect light-hearted play to highlight Valentine’s Day Weekend,” said Reeves.
Many seniors who have been involved in the WHS musicals and plays for the past few years will be playing the members of The Cornley Drama Society. These students include Tyler Smidt, Rylie Nusz, Hannah Verstegen, Brayden Harris, Lily Lewis, and Elisha Schmidt-Niemuth. Other students include Syl Fries, Gustave Olson, and Logan Nusz. To assist backstage with all the “things that go wrong” are Kaleigha Forseth, Olivia Verstegen, Peyton Koeppler, Bella Saunders, River Wohlrabe, Lalita Correra, and Maddy Gabbert.
Assisting in the production elements are Abby Higginson (assistant student director) Russell Reeves (set designer and construction), Sean Baldwin (lighting designer), Hank Holterman (graphic designer), and Anna Lussier (microphone setup and operation). Noah Kolinski, Maddy Komp, and Colton Drmolka will run the lights and sound, and Emma Adams will be the front of house manager.
Fans of Duran Duran will also appreciate this play.
General admission tickets (adult $10 and Student $5)can be purchased by calling Cindy Ikert at WHS: 715-258-4131 ext. 1028 or through email at cikert@waupacaschools.org. Tickets will also be for sale at the door. Show times are Friday, Feb.14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m.