HAmDramS

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society's Production of Macbeth Review by Geoff Griggs

Every other year the Townswomen's Guild holds a national Drama Festival. This year the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild performed Macbeth in Haddenham's Arkenstall Centre as part of the competition's area finals, ably assisted by the Haddenham Amateur Dramatic Society (HAmDramS).
The proceedings were opened with an address from Mrs. Reece (Ruth Bramley) a lady typical of such organisations, obviously some distant relation of the late, great Joyce Grenfell, who introduced Mr George Peach (a suitably theatrical luvvie played by Geoff Durrant). As with many such enterprises, things didn't always go as planned. The first scene, when Macbeth (Thelma Greenwood, a lady with no doubts about her worth or abilities played by Sarah Chapman) and Banquo (Minnie Barton, soldiering on despite an attack of laryngitis, played by Eppie Le Roux) meet the witches, was notable for two reasons. The set was built facing the back of the stage so that the play opened with the audience staring at the performers' backs and, secondly, the third witch, Kate (Suzi Brinkler) was performing with the aid of crutches due to a broken leg.
A short intermission, accompanied by bangs and thumps rectified the set misalignment only for another crisis to rear up. Hilda Bristow, who had spent months perfecting the role of Lady Macbeth, had got on the wrong bus and wouldn't get to the venue in time to perform. After a little persuasion, Henry the stage manager (Nick Chapman, who may or may not have actually been acting) agreed to take on the part with the aid of a natty Super Mario moustache.
Throughout this memorable production of, what appeared to be, Shakespeare's prototype of Acorn Antiques, the producer, David Plummer (a suitably frantic Adam Clow) kept the faith and the company almost together while the plot limped along. Unfortunately he had to forcibly remove Kate who was doubling up as “Messenger” as well as “Third Witch” on more than one occasion, causing her to fall from her crutches and sustain further injuries. By the time she appeared in her third role as Macduff David was having to push her around in a wheelchair.
There were some imaginative uses of overhead props, possibly most memorably during Macbeth's “Is this a dagger I see before me” speech when two daggers swung in from either side of the stage, neither of which could he/she grab. The bobbing severed head and body also added drama. The scene with Banquo's ghost was most memorable, especially when one of the concealed ghost movers managed to kick over the table laden with a feast. The two occasions when Dawn (Amy Stuttle) lost her spectacles and was unable to see where she was going were almost undetectable.
Possibly the final crisis was when Mr Peach (Geoff Durrant) announced that time had almost run out and the only way to complete the production was for David Plummer (Adam Clow) to read the rest of the text at breakneck speed. Mr Peach's verdict on the Guild's efforts, delivered in a blonde wig and matching pink dress and tights, showed what a gentleman he was as he saw the play more as a curate's egg (good in parts) rather than stinking fish.
The whole HAmDramS company are to be congratulated, especially director Robert Bush, who must have had to shout “and we'll keep doing it until you get it wrong” on more than one occasion. The whole production crew were almost invisible, which is a token of how efficient they were. Mention must be made of the splendid work of Cherry and Smiley Mildwater whose efforts on the bar enhanced an already very enjoyable evening.

"I can't run away, Felicity, I'm supposed to be dead!" >
"No, you tell Mrs Reece to run away!"