New Hamilton theatre company presents play in a play

Hilarious one-act family-friendly Play That Goes Wrong is the first production of BIG HEARTS little theatre based on the Mountain.

BIG HEARTS little theatre is a new performing arts company based on Hamilton Mountain, fuelled by the passion and artistic direction of long-time local educator Erin Newton. BIG HEARTS is set to present a family-friendly comedy over the next two weekends, called The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, which follows a theatre company as it stages a play, all the while running into mishap after mishap.

The play-within-a-play takes the classic murder mystery (think Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap), and imagines what would happen if it were to be performed by a spectacularly accident-prone group of stage actors. Everything that can go wrong does as the cast struggles on valiantly … and hilariously.

The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society has found success with a string of hit productions. After receiving a sizable amount of money, they decide to stage The Murder at Haversham Manor. The troupe is headed by one Chris Bean, who plays Inspector Carter in the murder mystery while filling a laundry list of other roles for the society. Throughout the ensuing performance, disasters bedevil the cast leaving them careening from one outrageous, slapstick moment to another.

The Play That Goes Wrong was written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields; each of them were also members of the original U.K. and Broadway casts. The play premiered in London in 2012 and won Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards. Over the past 10 years, the play has seen multiple U.K. tours, a two-year Broadway run (for which film director J.J. Abrams made his debut as theatrical producer), a Tony Award, a Drama Desk win, and further performances off-Broadway. The playwrights are also behind related show Peter Pan Goes Wrong and an acclaimed TV series The Goes Wrong Show. 

The BIG HEARTS little theatre production to be held at The Zoetic is a shorter, streamlined version of the original play.

The Hamilton show’s producer and director is BIG HEARTS’ artistic director, the aforementioned Erin Newton. She is an award-winning arts educator with over two decades as a teacher, director, choreographer, artist, and mentor. 

Dance and theatre have been lifelong pursuits for Newton. According to her online bio, she graduated from local studios to receive training at Randolph Performing Arts in Toronto, Steps on Broadway, and the Broadway Dance Centre in New York City. She went on to own a successful chain of dance studios for 10 years.

With degrees from McMaster and Brock University, Newton also has professional teaching certifications in performing arts, jazz, tap, and stage dance arts. She is celebrating her 20th year in arts education as a teacher with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.

The mandate of her BIG HEARTS little theatre is to provide quality “dramatic arts education and performing arts opportunities to local artists and beyond” with the intention of presenting both “new works as well as licensed productions.” The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong is its first production as well as a fundraising event for the company.

Ticket buyers should be aware that there is an “immersive pre-show” that begins at 7:15 p.m. which leads into this play-within-a-play. The show is suitable for children ages 7 and older.

NEED TO KNOW

The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong
The Zoetic
526 Concession St., Hamilton
Aug. 16, 17, 23 & 24, 7:30 p.m. 
Pre-show: 7:15 p.m.
Run time: approx. 75 mins. 
Tickets: $35 for adults and $30 for students/seniors 
Purchase by emailing bigheartslittletheatre@gmail.com
More info here