FHS To Present The Play That Goes Wrong

Story submitted by
Peggy Darragh-Jeromos

FRANKLIN, OH -- Franklin High School Drama Club will show off their comedy chops in The Play That Goes Wrong High School Edition," written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields. Showtimes are Oct. 18 and 19 at 7 p.m., and Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. All performances will be in the Franklin Junior High McDade Auditorium, 750 E. 4th St., Franklin.

The play is about a play, a 1920s whodunit, the Murder at Haversham Manor. Specifically, it’s the opening night of the Cornley University Drama Society’s newest production, where things go very, very wrong, with an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).

Director Jeff Sams said, “This play became popular in New York in 2019 and then went on a national tour. I saw it on tour, and I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. It was great. I also told myself, at that time, that the play could not be done in a high school. It was too complicated and expensive. However, a few years later a High School Edition was released. I was still a little hesitant because I wasn't sure we had the resources for it. But after reading the script and looking at the changes that make the School Edition easier to produce for schools, I felt it was the right time to tackle it. It's been some time since we have tackled a comedy like this one, and I felt that we could do it well.”

Performing comedy well isn’t easy Sams explained, adding , “this is a comedy that cannot be played like a comedy. The comedy comes from the circumstances the ‘actors’ find themselves in as they perform a murder mystery. This is hard to teach young people. The play is complex and at every turn, there are multiple things happening that require focus, movement, teamwork, and a great deal of precision to pull off correctly.”

He added, “We have been working diligently on developing ensemble and comic timing. One of our longtime collaborators, Missy Whitis, has been attending some rehearsals and providing further coaching on the comedy for the play. Missy teaches at the University of Cincinnati and has been a guest artist for our past productions of Noises Off and Puffs. The whole team is working to instill in the kids the notion that comedy is hard, sometimes dangerous, and requires a lot of practice.”

Quite a few actors graduated in May, but Sams said, “We are seeing new leadership in the students on stage. Many students with large roles are stepping up since we had such a large graduating class last year. We had no issue filling the roles. Thirty students attended auditions.” He added, “Many of the 2024 graduates are a bit salty they couldn't do this play!” 

FHS Drama continues to win local awards and receive state-level recognition. Sams noted, “Last year, all three of our productions were recognized as Outstanding by the Miami Valley High School Theater Awards. This was a huge accomplishment. We hope to repeat that success this year as well as having students recognized for individual performances.” 

He added, “In addition, we are hoping to take our winter production of A Christmas Carol to the State Thespian Conference this year. We’re being screened by the state committee for that in December.”

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG HIGH SCHOOL EDITION is presented by special arrangement with Broadway Licensing, LLC, servicing the Dramatists Play Service collection. (www.dramatists.com).

Tickets are on sale at https://fhsdrama.booktix.com/ and will also be available at the door. Prices are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students.

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