Learning How to Take a Hit With The Play That Goes Wrong

With The Play That Goes Wrong now running Off-Broadway, Playbill got curious about how some of those outlandish falls, smacks, and trips happened. So Playbill's social media director Felicia Fitzpatrick and Playbill's editor-in-chief Mark Peikert dropped by their new home at New World Stages to find out.
On stage, cast members Bianca Horn (who also serves as fight captain) and Matt Harrington (Chris) walked through the Act 1 "shield hit"-and then had a civilian give it a shot. Watch the whole thing unfold in the video above (and do not try this at home, kids).
Co-written by Mischief Theatre company members Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields, The Play That Goes Wrong introduces The Cornley University Drama Society, which is attempting to put on a 1920s murder mystery, but everything that can go wrong does as the accident-prone thespians battle on against all odds to get to their final curtain call.

[@andrewjays.2244]

Thank you for this, I currently play the Inspector in our school production but they weren't sure how to do the shield until we found this video.
So thank you for assisting us! :)

[@remconet]

1:21 this gave me anxiety because he moved forward after hitting the mark. LOL

[@YoshliFan]

This must be a dreadful show for safety assurance lol

[@toptomot6813]

Would sell my soul to be able to watch this show

[@jenniferhanses7064]

Excellent job. That looked very real.

[@MekonInBrisbane]

What sort of hinge is the shield on? So that it can be pulled off easily while being secure enough to swing?

[@thatfootballchatter8505]

This play seriously doesn’t work with American actors the comedy just isn’t the same

[@janefisher1614]

Surely there is enough time for you to raise your hands before getting hit? I've always thought it makes it feel less realistic when the actor doesn't react to a shield flying into his face like he knows it ain't going to touch him. Also who hangs shields on hinges....

[@joeeeee256]

In the plau the actor has very quickly been pushed back into the hallway, the hit is more of a surprise. Ik what you mean but I can't imagine it working as well after seeing it in person.

[@CityWhisperer]

You don’t expect a shield to fall on you.

[@janefisher1614]

@@CityWhisperer Lots of things happen that you don't expect but you are still able to flinch, blink or even attempt a block. They could learn a lot from the WWE