The Play That Goes Wrong opens on Broadway to strong reviews

Mischief Theatre take over New York.

Mischief Theatre may have taken over the West End in recent years with Olivier Award-winning and Olivier nominated productions of The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, but the London based group last night attempted to open their hilarious original play on Broadway in front of a star-studded audience and some of the industry's most important critics.

Written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer & Henry Shields and directed by Mark Bell, The Play That Goes Wrong opened at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre on 2 April, following previews from 9 March. Original cast members Matthew Cavendish, Bryony Corrigan, Rob Falconer, Dave Hearn, Henry Lewis, Charlie Russell, Jonathan Sayer, Henry Shields, Greg Tannahill and Nancy Zamit star in the production, which is produced by J.J. Abrams, all making their Broadway debuts.

The New York Times' Ben Brantley gave the show a strong review, suggesting audiences put "your rational mind into sleep mode, the better to savor tickling images of order-inverting bizarreness, straight out of Dada, in which suddenly nothing is in its customary place or being used for its customary purpose." He commented on the "wild, redeeming poetry in such anarchy" and followed up by confirming that his audience "roared as loudly as the crowds at any wrestling match".

Jesse Green, reviewer for Vulture and soon-to-be colleague of Mr Brantley, commented that "it's so ridiculous it makes you feel almost ashamed to love it", whilst Frank Scheck for Hollywood Reporter said "the actors are very good at being bad and are so daring with the outrageous physical comedy that we often fear for their safety. There's no paucity of wit to the proceedings, and director Mark Bell stages the action with clockwork precision."

West End audiences continue to flock to this Olivier Award-winning comedy, and it's clear that New York audiences have found a similar charm in this light-hearted production that delivers huge laughs and provides perfect escapism.

We wish our friends at Mischief Theatre a long and hilarious run on The Great White Way!

The Play That Goes Wrong tickets are on sale at the Duchess Theatre in London. Tickets for the New York production at the Lyceum Theatre are also on sale.