The F.A.H.E.T.G.D.S. A CHRISTMAS CAROL

This was my first foray into the Farndale universe, very entertaining it was to, I hope it's not my last.

 Ah, the world of Amateur Dramatics which we all know and love so much, the emotions, the pathos, the drama, the primadonas, vying for power, distinct in-balance of the sexes, bruised egos and back biting.Fond, fond memories

In a festive mood the ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Drama Society mount another assault on the classics with their version of A Christmas Carol.

They enthusiastically portray a dizzy array of characters from the Dickensian favourite (and a few which aren't), engineer some novel audience participation whilst bravely contending with an intrusive PA system and a real Farndale first as they rap their vocal chords and feet around two original, show stopping songs; or so it says in the programme.

The show started with an apology as the cast were stuck in traffic, utilising some amusing poor microphone techniques I know I've seen this, not necessarily on a show per se, the writers are obviously well versed in observational comedy from this source of wealth we know and love as Am-Dram.

This followed with “had anyone got any experience in playing Scrooge”? just prior to the tardy, traffic bound Thespians arrival; quietly hinting at the power struggle dynamic within the group - the comedy, as is always the case, demanded excellent timing and it was achieved excellently.

The subtle nuances this fine cast bought to bare when switching from their Dickensian character to their Farndale characters, with all the years of brooding repressed feelings and simmering issues then back again was totally on point and effortless.

The show was basically an amalgam of every directors worst nightmare scenario - If it could possibly go wrong, it did, all with hilarious results and this was all before the cast introduced the laminated letters to announce to the audience I RENT VAL.

Act Two - The obligatory raffle. As we arrived early to meet the Director, I'm not sure if this was a real raffle or a Farndale one, as we weren't cajoled to buy any tickets, well done.

A quick announcement thanking the lady with the photocopier for the scripts together with an apology for a copier fault causing a black band down the right of the script pages rendering them open to interpretation shall we say, this was genius, the audience filling in the gaps as it progressed.

Some restrained dodgy props business, which was all the better for being so. This side of Am Dram could easily be a show in itself. Sound and lighting was excellent throughout, well tech'ed guys.

One particular favourite part for me, was the interruption in the Christmas Future death scene, whoops spoiler alert! With a request for strong men to hump after the show - this has happened in several shows I have been in. I must however stress, it was on the last night after the performance and speeches etc not in the middle of a beautifully lit and dramatic scene. I'm still chuckling to myself now typing this remembering.

The last twenty minutes seemed to lose a little steam compared to the rest of the show.

The laminated letters again announcing the end and to wish us all HOTDOGGIN. I loved it. 

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