Things will go from bad to worse during an upcoming Arlington High School play.

But that’s what is supposed to happen.

“It basically starts out bad and gets worse from there,” said Jimmy Dix, a senior. “It’s a pretty challenging play because that chaos has to look real, which is hard to sell.”

Dix and his fellow actors and actresses from the drama department will soon be putting on a production of “Noises Off,” a British farce about a group of actors performing in a play.

The play takes place at 7 p.m. on April 23, 24, 30 and May 1 at the Byrnes Performing Arts Center.

Dix plays Lloyd Dallas, the director of for the play “Nothing On,” which chronicles the antics of a production that eventually disintegrates into shambles by the third act.

“I’ve waited a long time to stage this play,” said drama teacher and director Scott Moberly. “It requires incredible comic timing, and rapid, flawless dialog delivery, making it pretty sophisticated acting for high school students.”

Moberly said he double-casted a few of the characters in “Noises Off” to give more students a chance to take part in the play.

For example, Lauren Beall, a senior, and Caroline Rensel, a junior, both play stage manager Poppy, who is part of a love triangle between Dallas and another character, Brook Ashton.

“It’s interesting because we’re American teenagers playing British adults,” Beall said.

The result is a bizarre combination of on-stage awkwardness and bizarre humor, Rensel said.

“We’re teenagers, so awkward is easy for us,” she said.

Most of the cast members of the spring play are seniors, which will make the production extra special, said Bailey Taylor, who plays actress Belinda Blair.

“It’s a great show to leave Arlington on,” Taylor said. “There’s a happy ending that will make people laugh.”

Tickets can be purchased at www.byrnesperformingarts.org. Cost is $6 for students and seniors, $8 for adults.