Summary
‘They came from Mars and Landed Outside the Farndale Avenue Church Hall in Time for the Townswomen’s Guild Coffee Morning’, by David McGillivray & Walter Zerlin Jnr was directed by Bill Grainger and performed at the Plough Theatre on 9th – 12th May 2012.
Noda Review
This is the fourth play in the Farndale series that Torrington Players have performed, and it must rate as one of the best, even though it has the longest title !
The plot (if one could call it that) was very amusing, but was possibly nearer to the truth of AmDram situations than we would like to think.
The opening announcements to include the audience were very good, and the acting skills of Mrs Reece (Jean Evans-Loude) were superb. She reminded me very much of Annette Crosbie who plays Victor Meldrew’s wife in ‘One Foot in the Grave’. Her change into Professor Einstein was excellent, and added much to the hilarity within the audience.
The part of Norah (Christine Keeley) was played with great acrobatic skills, and won lots of admiration from the more elderly members of the audience. How she managed to climb and fall around as she did whilst being Roberta the Robot, was incredible. Perhaps she could bottle her secret and sell it on the open market, I’m sure lots of us would buy it.
Thelma, Gordon and Felicity were well cast, and added tremendously to the overall production. It must be more difficult to go ‘wrong’ on purpose than to try to cover up the odd forgotten line or incorrect move.
The set (!) as such was good and the lighting special effects were excellent. Full marks to the Stage Crew.
A very enjoyable evening and a pleasure to see this very talented group again.
Synopsis
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society tread the boards once again – this time taking on the sci-fi genre in another work of genius what they have wrote.
Regular audience members may remember previous dramatic excursions into the whodunnit, (Murder at Checkmate Manor), Dickens (A Christmas Carol) and the classic French Farce (Chase Me up Farndale Avenue S’il Vous Plait).
The redoubtable Mrs Reece and her not-always-willing band of temperamental helpers will attempt to battle the usual elements of collapsing scenery, badly-behaved props, almost-remembered lines and unfortunate illnesses and accidents to bring you a night of completely edifying entertainment;possibly with the occasional, useful cookery tip, holiday snap or fashion advice for the ‘modern miss’
