Like a sort of play that could make critic go mad almost (10)
I believe the answer is:
tragicomic
'like a sort of play' is the definition.
(like a tragicomedy)
'could make critic go mad almost' is the wordplay.
'could make' indicates an anagram.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'critic'+'go'+'mad'='criticgomad'
'criticgomad' with its final letter taken away is 'criticgoma'.
'criticgoma' with letters rearranged gives 'TRAGICOMIC'.
'that' is the link.
(Other definitions for tragicomic that I've seen before include "seriously funny" , "exhibiting mixed feelings" , "causing mixed feelings" , "Sad but funny" , "Containing both sad and humorous elements" .)