The fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society attempts to stage a production of the 1904 J. M. Barrie play Peter and Wendy, which is repeatedly ruined by the amateurism and personal rivalries of the cast and crew and the insistence that the director believes it is a serious play rather than a pantomime.
Production history
London
The play made its premiere at the Pleasance Theatre in London in December 2013 before touring the UK in 2014. The production transferred to the West End in London at the Apollo Theatre for a Christmas season run in 2015, running from 4 December 2015 to 26 February 2016.[1] It featured the original cast of The Play That Goes Wrong reprising their cast and crew characters from the original production, with the addition of Daisy Waterstone as Robert's niece Lucy.
It was announced in January 2022 that the show would have its North American premiere starting 8 September 2022 at The Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta with an all Canadian cast. The show ran from 26 February - 20 March 2022.[2]
It was announced on 5 January 2023 that the show would transfer to Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a limited sixteen and a half weeks beginning 17 March 2023, with an opening night set for 19 April 2023, featuring the majority of the original cast.[4] On 3 April 2023 it was announced that Neil Patrick Harris would be joining the cast for a limited engagement. [5] On 8 June 2023, it was announced Ellie Kemper would join the cast for a limited engagement.[6][7]
After the conclusion of its limited engagement, the production had its West Coast premiere in Los Angeles, California at the Ahmanson Theatre for another limited five weeks, once again featuring the majority of the original Mischief cast. Performances began 8 August, 2023 with an opening night of 11 August and special guest Bradley Whitford as the Narrator until 20 August. On 30 August, Daniel Dae Kim took over as the Narrator until 10 September.[8] On 25 August a one-week extension was announced with Neil Patrick Harris returning to the role of Francis until its official closing night of 17 September, 2023.[9]
Television special
The play was adapted into a one-hour television special which was broadcast on 31 December 2016 on BBC One, guest-starring David Suchet as the narrator, and featuring the original cast, with the exception of Rob Falconer. It was filmed in front of a live audience at dock10 studios and featured additional footage of other BBC television sets being accidentally invaded.