Ep 1. The Spirit of Christmas

The Goes Wrong Show is a comedy series that revolves around the fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society’s efforts to stage a play. The first episode of season 1 is entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.”

The episode starts with the cast assembling to give the audience a warm welcome. Chris Bean, the Director, and writer of their Christmas production, addresses the spectators, thanking them for coming to the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society for this festive performance. The humorous introductions and a few mishaps in setting up the stage, including technicians struggling with rigged scenery pieces, sets the tone for the rest of the show.

The play they’re performing follows a typical Christmas storyline, set in a country house decorated and ready for the holidays. The play focuses on a young couple engaged to be married, their wealthy aunt, and her eccentric family and staff. As usual, Bean manages to bring in a few changes to the script, and from the opening, cues start being missed, and things don't go according to plan.

The experience the cast members have ranges from zero to some experience, and it's demonstrated in numerous scenes with characters trying to do too little or too much. Blunders such as wardrobe malfunctions, with wigs falling, and accessories forgotten, cause the actors to break character and laugh, which the audience found amusing. With this comedy, nothing is held back, and everything is played for laughs.

The audience is introduced to various characters, some present at the family members' celebration, others servants to the family. Throughout the performance, viewers will witness the many things that can go wrong in a dramatic production. Despite the vast array of errors and malfunctions, the production persists, giving the audience sincere laughter and joy.

Despite the calamities that occur regularly, there are some beautiful moments that make the play an ideal Christmas comedy. The innocent, sweet performance of Sandra Wilkinson, as an elderly lady on the verge of losing memory, caused tears of laughter as she repeatedly forgets her name and the people around her. The character-driven play thrives on the combination of perfect timing and well-acted roles.

As the play progresses, the set begins to fall apart, the cast struggles to remember lines, a pet dog misbehaves, and characters appear and disappear. Any unexpected event that could go wrong on stage does, and it's a delight for the audience.

The subtle nuances that the director and actors bring to the performance affect the viewer's perspective. Audiences can't help but notice small details, the way the actor blinks, the look on their face, or even their posture. No act is insignificant in this show, and everything adds to the hilarity.

While the performance was meant to be a comedy, the cast does a fantastic job of making it feel like a real play, and the characters are easy to relate to. The audience can't help but feel invested in the production and want to see the story play out despite all the mayhem going on.

In conclusion, season 1, episode 1 of The Goes Wrong Show, "The Spirit of Christmas," is a hilarious piece of comedic theatre. The shenanigans occurring are impeccably orchestrated, which creates a unique experience. It's a shining example of an evening of laughter and a great start to the series. With its witty cast, slapstick humor, and heartfelt story, this show is sure to bring joy and laughter to all who watch it.