The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s

It’s a cliché, but the title of this play says more or less everything about CUDOS’s latest production, it was a farcical and very funny take on Shakespeare’s tragedy. The ladies of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate ride roughshod, bumbling their way through with the forlorn hope of impressing competition judge Mr. Peach, who’s come all the way up from that London! That’s the joke. No nuance or subtlety here. No social consciousness, just women from an estate doing Macbeth really badly!

CUDOS were fortunate to have a talented band of players who excelled at acting badly (this is a compliment) for a company to play farce well they must be extremely disciplined and timing is crucial. The play-within-a-play concept, though lazy, is done well, and convincingly. Polly English was impressive as hopelessly earnest director Mrs. Reece – her exasperation, nicey-nicey diplomacy and provincial skittishness made it easy to forget that she wasn’t actually responsible for the mess unfolding on stage. Similarly Dave Phillips as the barely competent stage hand Henry, with his dry physicality, ineptitude and faithful adherence to health and safety regulations, was a welcome and entertaining presence. His most significant role was playing Lady Macbeth. Undoubtedly the funniest member of the cast was Kerry Peters, her leg in a cast and then in a wheel chair careering around the stage. Nick Harris as producer Plummer was always on the brink of a nervous breakdown was equally convincing shining in the limelight as a song and dance man!  Angela Eason was perfectly cast as Macbeth, having the lion’s share of the dialogue in the bloated and self-satisfied world of am dram. She had some wonderful hissy fits! And made a convincing am dram diva!

Timing was everything, making a mess of the lighting, forgetting lines, and inappropriate performances that have the producer swearing from backstage are objectively quite funny (and were done well on the night).  Farndale is funny, and solid entertainment, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s good fun. The mechanics in getting staging and props flying in at just the right moment was perfect,   so making the most of its comedic value. Set, Costumes and Makeup had been well thought through and added to the enhancement of production.  

Well done CUDOS you put on a good production which was warmly received by your first night audience…

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