Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen's Guild Dramatic Society's production of A Christmas Carol

Taking a play, wrecking it, getting everything wrong, actors coming out of character, arguing on stage, storming off in huffs and creating chaos might be considered easy, but it isn’t. Plays about plays going wrong have to be done right. If it was not for the high standard of acting by The Pepperpot Players, directed by Penny Sant, this could have gone seriously wrong, but it didn’t.

The Christmas scene was set before entering the venue with the doorway adorned with decorations and we sat at tables suitably dressed with decorations and the obligatory paper hats.

Karen Evans, as ‘Mrs Reece’ who also played Schoolgirl / Tiny Tim / Fred’s wife and Mrs Dilber, had the difficult job of announcing the show, not unusual in Farndale productions, starting with explaining delays and the guild announcements, in a semi stand-up routine engaging the audience to set up one unsuspecting sole, erroneously as a foreigner, who has to have various points explained throughout the show, and to find a replacement Scrooge as the real one was stuck in traffic. Karen did an outstanding job narrating the show, very much in the style of Julie Waters’ ‘Mrs O’ and gave us a very funny Tiny Tim.

Another large share of the action is undertaken by ‘Thelma’ who plays Ebenezer Scrooge (who eventually arrives) all played by the equally talented Jude Sanderson, with great style and presence. Tim Wilson as ‘Gordon’ also responsible for a large number of roles – I particularly liked Mr Fezziwig – provided some good comedy timing and Chris Kislak as ‘Mercedes’ portraying five roles in total, including the major role of Bob Cratchit, which she limps and winces through as a result of a multi- supermarket pile up, with all the enthusiasm of a turkey at Christmas.

By now, I have realised the cast must be quite bonkers; Casey Benson (‘Felicity’), Chloe Yates (‘Cassandra’), Steve Crofts (‘Bob’) and Trevor Mullan (‘Eugene’) who together play another additional 14 parts, all  indescribable yet effective! I loved the ‘Walking in the Air’ sequence, and the end of Part 1 Scrooge number was excellent.

In the interval we were spoilt with turkey and stuffing sandwiches plus Christmas cake and mince pies, not to mention a Christmas Carol word search and during the second part we were entertained with a game of charades and the traditional sing along, although when the audience was split into two to determine the best one side was not allowed to compete, much to their dismay!

Although a huge set was not required, the backcloth and other pieces were very well constructed and painted and all was well supported by effective sound, lighting and costumes.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Anne Harker in September, who with her husband Martin established The Players in 1976.This was my first experience of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society which I enjoyed and which I am sure Anne would have been proud of.

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