|
"It'll be alright on the night" is a familiar saying, and the Bramcote based Riverside Drama Company had everything crossed when it staged the ambitious production with a laborious title - Farndale Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Murder Mystery.
If the cast of this hilarious offering knew what was going on, and you couldn't be certain, then audiences at St John's Church Hall in Long Eaton must have been completely bemused by a play that was a "disaster" from start to finish - but that's how it was meant to be!
A townswomen's guild, whose members include irrepressible chairman Mrs Reece, is staging a whodunnit called Murder at Checkmate Manor, plus a fashion show during the interval, and this comedy of errors certainly had its moments.
No sooner had the curtains opened on Farnsdale Guild's excruciating production, when part of the scenery collapsed, players forgot their lines and there were impromptu entrances.
Unflustered, Mrs Reece, played to perfection by Liz Turner, and her ladies, soldiered on regardless, wringing out the laughs, and with the best intentions, delivering the guild's murder mystery in a style that Clouseau himself would have been proud of.
Aided by the hapless Gordon Pugh, played by John Lomas who also took on the role of the intrepid Inspector O'Reilly, the Guild's players stumbled from one act to another, creating mayhem along the way.
Madder than most, and in great form throughout was Bramcote schoolteacher Liz O'Hara, whose portrayal of Pawn the Butler resembled John Cleese at his zany best.
Rising to the challenge of playing the parts of Clarissa, Patricia and Regine the French maid, as well as Mrs Reece, among others, Liz Turner, added zest to proceedings.
Completing the line-up of players and making impressive contributions, were Pat Clarke as Violet and Joan, and Janet Bradbery who appeared as "perennial leading lady" Thelma Greenwood, Rose, and Daphne.
If there was a plot in this brilliantly written play, one of a series of Farnsdale favourites from David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jnr, it centred around Reginald Bishops' will and the nine beneficiaries.
Directed by Pat Tuffin, Riverside's production was well received.
Playing their parts backstage were Martin Holtom, Charlotte Lloyd, Jo and John East, and Paul Norris among others.
Riverside Drama Company meets for rehearsals at Brameote C of E Primary School in Hanley Avenue, Bramcote, and are looking for newcomers, either to play parts or to help backstage or front of house.
Anyone interested should phone 0115 8750506 or access the group's website at www.riversidedrama.com
Also, Riverside is set to perform the first plays at Long Eaton's Chatsworth Centre since it was largely destroyed by fire late last year.
The group is putting on two one-act comedies which will be presented in the Devonshire Room, which escaped destruction thanks to the fire doors, on Thursday, June 3 to Saturday, June 5 at 7.30pm.
The audience can help build a replacement for the Duchess Theatre. The Phoenix Fund has been set up towards the reconstruction of the theatre, and a collection will be made each night for it.
In the first play, The Droitwich Discovery by Nick Warburton, four thespian enthusiasts find themselves in a dusty attic in Droitwich, an unlikely place for a Shakespearean tour, where a startling discovery is made.
The second is a production of Richard Harris' Albert - a comedy of language misunderstandings between people of three nationalities.
|
