Stop! The Play sees a group of actors in rehearsals preparing for a play that evolves and changes on a daily basis. The group start to lose faith in their director as he always answers their queries with his catchphrase, “It’s in the script” no matter how absurd the re-write is. The second act of the show reveals the play on opening night with a script that the actors must learn as they go through the show.

This show is like a group of the best anecdotes from the world’s worst jobs. It’s full of crazy theatre faux pas, borderline offensive stereotypes and random and unnecessary scenes of homoerotic relations. Although at times the laughter seemed rather generous, there is no doubt that this farce is full of great comic timing, well-timed innuendos and plenty of witty comebacks.

The writer, David Spicer, says that he wrote the second half of the script before the first half so the cast were presented with a bizarre tale and no one could really understand how the whole story began. The audience could definitely feel the same despite following the development of this script chronologically.

As the play jumps straight into the rehearsal room it is at first hard to follow, but after a mere matter of minutes, the comedy style settles with the audience and the laughter booms around the intimate auditorium. There is definitely some truth behind the story and the contrasting egos of the actors. Even the cast must be having a delightful time poking fun at their tough industry.

The director, Evelyn (Ben Starr) is riotous as he attempts to create art with a group of disgruntled actors and a script that changes as fast as the speed of light. The diva, Hugh (Adam Riches), is hilarious as the spotlight-obsessed lead. His co-star Gemma (Hatty Preston) is enthusiastic to try anything and maybe at times rather naïve but even this script manages to break her spirit. American actor Kryston (Tosin Cole) is clueless about his role as the stereotypically black American rapper. The final two members of the cast are Linda (Hannah Stokely) and Walter (James Woolley) who both easily provide some of the best laughs in this show. Only the assistant/stage manager, Chrissie (Charlie Cameron), makes any attempt at rescuing the train wreck that the show becomes.

This is a charmingly farcical backstage comedy and it is probably the mix of truth and comedy that makes it so entertaining. Sure, the first act feels a tad long but the laughter easily covers that up.

Stop! The Play is playing at Trafalgar Studios until 27 June. For tickets and more information, see the ATG Tickets website. Photo by Matt Humphrey.