Anything can happen in community theater, and that’s never truer than in Centreville High’s upcoming production of “The Play that Goes Wrong (high-school edition).” Actors forget their lines, props get mixed up and hilarity ensues in this rollicking, slapstick ensemble.

The story follows the fictional Cornley Drama Society trying valiantly to put on a murder mystery in London while, all around, whatever can go wrong does. Featuring a cast and crew of 25, it’s Centreville’s Cappies show.

“I think the audience will really enjoy the fast-paced comedy – which includes a swordfight gone wrong, missing props on stage, and the set slowly falling apart,” said Director Patrick McGee. “But as in live theater, the show must go on.”

The curtain rises Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 18, at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15, adults; and $10, students, senior citizens and military at the door or via www.theatrecentreville.com.

McGee chose this show because he wanted “the opportunity to celebrate and highlight our Theater Department’s strong ability to perform comedy. The actors are bringing their talents and creativity into portraying these comedic characters.” 

“This play also offers our technical-theater students the opportunity to develop their artistry with many of the complicated, technical elements involved in this show,” he continued. “They’re using their design skills in developing the interior of the Haversham mansion and the unique props. And the costume team is outfitting guests at a 1920s party and working on color coordinating related characters.”

Junior Makena Nelson plays Chris, head of the drama society and director of its play, “The Murder at Haversham Manor.” She also takes advantage of her position by casting herself in one of the lead roles, Inspector Carter, investigating the death of the manor’s owner, Charles Haversham. 

“She’s confident and really enjoys being in charge and telling people what to do,” said Nelson. “As the detective, she’s serious and no-nonsense, but she struggles to maintain control. I like playing that level of confidence and experience: ‘I know best; let me tell you what to do.’”

As the director, though, said Nelson, “Chris is frustrated by all the things that go wrong. She cares a lot about this show and knows it so well that it really bothers her that others don’t. I also enjoy playing this character because I relate to her as a perfectionist, but nobody in the mystery’s cast is really buying it that things are going OK because she says they are.”

Nelson said audiences will love this show’s high energy, comedy and funny bits. “There are even jokes that only the audience – not the characters – are in on,” she said. “It’s familiar British humor and a really lighthearted, fun and enjoyable show to watch.”

Portraying an actress named Sandra is junior Kylie Henryhand. In the mystery, Sandra plays Florence, Charles’s fiancé. “She’s dramatic and over-the-top faints all the time,” said Henryhand. “And it’s gotten to the point where everyone thinks it’s normal for her to throw a tantrum. I like playing Florence because it’s a new experience doing her stage falls and the different ways I have to position my body to show all her antics.”

Henryhand described Sandra as a “know-it-all, braggy, snobby character who likes to throw the fact that she has the role of Florence in everybody’s face. She does extensive research on her character and is extremely committed to her role. 

“I like speaking in a British accent, which is good experience for me as an actress. And as Sandra, there’s a lot of physicality. But since the others don’t expect all the things that go wrong, she has to maintain her composure and stay in character, while everything’s just falling apart.”

Henryhand said audiences will have fun watching the set, its elements and the characters “deconstructing before their eyes. And they’ll enjoy seeing all the technical elements that make this happen, plus the little jokes and jabs between the characters while they act in the murder mystery.”

Freshman Hannah Smith plays an actress named Annie who also plays Florence – and Annie thinks she does a better job of it than Sandra. “Annie was originally the play’s stage manager,” explained Smith. “But when things go wrong among the actors putting on the mystery, Sandra can’t continue playing Florence, and Annie’s thrust into the spotlight. 

“At first, Annie’s timid and scared because she’s never been in front of an audience before. But as things go on, she discovers her passion for acting and being onstage, after previously only working behind the scenes. She’s so much fun to play. She’s an awkward weirdo figuring things out – and then having to fight for her role when Sandra returns and wants to reclaim it. Since Annie has no experience acting, she’s coming up on the spot with ways to play Florence, with hilarious results.”

“Audiences should have a really good time at our show,” said Smith. “There are so many goofy moments and impressive tech elements. People will learn there are better and more creative ways to work around their problems than the actors in the community theater’s production do – by covering up things and pretending they’re not going wrong.”

Portraying actor Max is junior Asher Galbis-Doucette. Max plays Cecil Haversham, Charles’s brother, but his main role in the mystery is as Arthur the Gardener. “Max believes he’s God’s gift to acting, so I play him as big as I can,” said Galbis-Doucette. “I really play to the audience. Max is very full of himself, and it’s funny because of all those moments when he gets to show off. And he also gets to have a duel with Florence’s sister.”

Galbis-Doucette described Arthur the Gardener as “straightlaced and loyal to the Haversham family because he’s worked for them a long time. But the audience sees him as a comic character because, for example, he talks about his dog, but it’s never seen. He just walks around carrying a leash.”

Galbis-Doucette said audiences will like Centreville’s actors “because we all portray such big characters and pour such passion into them that it heightens the show’s emotion. And there’s a lot going on in the set that our tech crew worked so hard on that people will really appreciate it. The set’s the backbone for all the slapstick humor that happens.”