Having previously seen ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ in the West End (before JJ Abrams made it cool to do so), ‘Peter Pan Goes Wrong’ on tour, I was keen to complete the Mischief Theatre Company ‘Goes Wrong’ trilogy. Therefore, as soon as this was announced, I booked a ticket.
This possible final outing for the Cornley Dramatic Society (no longer Polytechnic students) finds them reconvening to put on Dickens’ Christmas masterpiece, with original Mischief Theatre members returning to the parts of Robert (Henry Lewis), Dennis (Jonathan Sayer), Annie (Nancy Zamit), Jonathan (Greg Tannahill) and Trevor (Chris Leask), ably assisted by ‘TPTGW’ West End alumni. ‘A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong’ was their second TV special, and although a proportion of that remains (eg. Robert attempting to incapacitate Chris, and Dennis reading his lines off scenery and props) there was a large amount of new stuff.
It also started with the rehearsal period, with a production meeting being a definite highlight. There was also good continuity with Jonathan still understandably having a fear of any heights, given his experiences as ‘Peter Pan’. As with many Mischief shows part of the fun was seeing later jokes/set-pieces being blatantly set up promoting a sense of anticipation, whether this being Dennis being given two bags that he’s told not to mix up with one containing fake snow and one containing coins, or the longer-term implications of a temporary patch-up to the model sent to the scenery-producers. Jokes built on jokes, and even the play really going wrong (leading to an 11 minute break while they fixed the electrics) couldn’t lower the level of hysterical laughter in the auditorium.
It all led up to a wonderful heartwarming ending which may be where we leave Cornley as a lot of loose ends were tied up, and I left the theatre with my face hurting from laughing. I then managed to meet the cast at the stage door, including Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer who I had not met when I saw ‘The Comedy About Spies’ earlier in the year. Beg, borrow or steal a ticket to ‘a perfect festive evening’.
‘Christmas Carol Goes Wrong’ runs at London’s Apollo Theatre until 26th January 2026, then tours to Nottingham, Aylesbury, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Canterbury. (Click here for dates)
Links: Official Website
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