r/Broadway•
they63

How different is Peter pan goes wrong stage play from the BBC special?

Question

Hi there,

So I have never seen ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ by the time I heard about it they stopped touring. I first found out About the “Goes Wrong” people was from their 2016 1 hour Christmas special “Peter Pan Goes Wrong”. it was so hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the brilliant edits and jokes they made in the special. A great parody of “Peter Pan live”

Since then I’ve been Hooked(pun intended) on their stuff. I watched their A Christmas carol goes wrong and both seasons of The Goes Wrong show.

And so when I found out there was an actual stage play version of Peter Pan goes wrong and it was coming to my town. I got tickets right away.

But I wanted to know. How much of it is like the 2016 special? Like… if I try to do the pantomime stuff will I just look rude? Or is expected? Are there enough of a difference in jokes that I’ll still laugh and be entertained? Or are they pretty much the same? Is it also only an hour long or is it longer with an intermission?

Id love to know people opinions on the stage play who have seen the live special. Was it still a good time? Thanks so much!

Posted Sep 8, 2023, 8:21 AM UTC

110
JuliasTooSmallTutu•

Pantomime is still in play. It’s longer and there is an intermission. The Indians have been removed. It’s still worth attending even if you have seen the tv version. Get to the theater at least a half hour early because there is a pre-show that starts about a half hour before showtime.

1
TheCrookedKnight•

I saw the play first and then the live special. I mostly like the play more, both because there's more material and because there's no substitute for being in the same room with the performers as they're doing all this nonsense live. The extra time does mean some of the jokes get run into the ground, though (especially Dennis's headset)

1
TrekJaneway•

I haven’t seen the televised version, but I saw it live 3 times on Broadway, and it was so, so funny!! Had a great time, and would see it again, if it was still open. They also threw in some jokes about Sweeney Todd, which was the hottest ticket on Broadway at the time, and I just loved it.

1
aimlesstrevler•

You can fly out to Los Angeles this weekend and next week and see it with the original cast at the Ahmanson still!

1
TrekJaneway•

Nah, I’m good. I saw it when they were in New York multiple times.

1
OKGirl82•

I aw The Play that Goes Wrong on tour, and it was SO FUNNY. I definitely want to check out the others. Thank you for this post!

1
EmmmBeeee•

I saw the live special first, then saw it on Broadway with NPH as guest narrator and loved it even more live. I just saw it again with Daniel Dae Kim as guest narrator and still found it just as funny! If you’re able to see it in LA while NPH is guest narrating, you’ll definitely be entertained. It runs 2 hours with a 15 minute intermission. Have a great time!

1
Trozska•

Did they do the 30 minute pre show at the Ahmanson? Going to see it tomorrow so I’m trying to figure out if we have time for lunch before.

1
EmmmBeeee•

Yes they did, but it was more like 15 minutes before show time, not 30 like on Broadway.

1
aimlesstrevler•

It is definitely worth seeing in the theater. The audience energy alone is worth it!

1

Definitely would say its worth a visit to see how they do it live. I know when they performed on Broadway, a bunch of the jokes were updated to reflect on the New York location/make it easier for American audiences. The jokes about Chris Bean not wanting it to be a pantomime are now about him insisting that this isn't a "children's show". They also had a bunch of jokes involving Dennis' headset that were new, such as him tuning into a local NYC radio station and a Kars-4-Kids ad, so I suspect they'll have similar changes for the road show.

My favorite one (that I suspect won't be used on the tour, so I don't mind spoiling it) is when some of the kids boo Captain Hook and Chris Bean shouted "STOP BOOING ME! You don't boo Josh Groban at Sweeney Todd, and he KILLS PEOPLE!"

1
EstebanRioNido•

Small thing reflecting the change in medium: In the stage version, Cornley keeps Max around because an indulgent relative of his just made a hefty donation. In the broadcast version, his aunt is said to "run the BBC."

1