The Play That Goes Wrong (Canterbury)

In fact, 21 January was the first time that The Play That Goes Wrong has played to an audience of more than 150, and the first time performing a new, elongated version of the play, which makes this slick show all the more impressive.

Using the well-worn play-within-a-play device, we are introduced to the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, presenting a 1920s whodunnit called The Murder At Haversham Manor.

What follows is a finely-tuned comedy of errors, where terrible actors act terribly, key props are misplaced (and substituted, to great comic effect), and the set misbehaves.

The script, by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields (who also star) is full of ingenious sight gags and preposterous wordplay, and offers a strong mix of wry chuckles, belly laughs and the occasional gasp.

The small, evidently tightly-knit cast perform together excellently, and while at the moment there is definitely room for a little tinkering with roles, one must remember it’s just the beginning of the road for this rags-to-riches troupe.

However, time alone will not fix the (admittedly few) issues with the script. Lengthy introductions to Acts 1 and 2 make the mistake of trying to beat new laughs out of the same joke. There are a handful of moments where the show lags and the niggling thought that this might make a better series of sketches than a full-length production, makes an appearance.

But such ideas are quickly washed away by a clever line, fine visual joke or outlandish piece of characterisation. An ongoing joke that sees the cast being forced to drink white spirits because the stage whisky was erroneously tipped away, never gets old.

The comedic standout is Dave Hearn, whose dopey meta-character appears to believe any laughter or applause is directed at him, and responds accordingly. Charlie Russell plays the heartbroken fiancée, who can’t quite stop vamping it up and milking her moment in the spotlight, when she should be mourning the death of her beloved.

It’s also good fun to watch Shield’s police inspector (who is also director of the college’s murder mystery – stay with me here) descend into John Cleese-esque fury as his masterpiece collapses around his ears.

As it stands, The Play That Goes Wrong is hysterical and with a little tightening up, will have no trouble at all building on the cult status it’s cultivating.

If this show doesn’t return to the West End to enjoy a run somewhere considerably larger than the Trafalgar Studios, I’ll drink a bottle of white spirits.

The Play That Goes Wrong is at the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury until 25 January and then tours nationally.