Theatregoers should expect the unexpected when the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society presents its production of A Christmas Carol this month.
Brought to the Potato Shed by Theatre3Triple2, the show tells the story of the fictional society’s hapless attempt to bring Charles Dickens’ timeless tale to life.
Though the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society members hold boundless enthusiasm and self-belief, things quickly take a turn for the worst.
Missed cues, forgotten lines, big egos, collapsing scenery, sonic mishaps… the list is endless.
Written by David McGillvray and Walter Zerlin Jnr, the play was first premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987, subsequently spawning a series of plays portraying the Dramatic Society’s attempts to produce theatrical works.
Director Rob MacLeod said despite having seen the show over 30 times over the years, he still found it hilarious.
“It’s a play within a play… it’s about this group of ladies in England who are part of a dramatic society, and they decide to put on A Christmas Carol,” he said.
“But of course it’s fraught with disasters along the way, including the fact that they couldn’t get it on before Christmas so they’ve had to put it on in March.
“It’s almost like an adult pantomime in the fact that it has audience participation, it’s got some singing and dancing and laughter and it’s very colourful… a bit Pythonesque.
“It’s appropriate – it’s not rude, it’s very family friendly – but it’s extremely funny.”
MacLeod paid tribute to the production’s mostly female cast, saying there was already talk of having the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society back next year.
“We may see another one next year; we’re thinking about doing the version of MacBeth next year,” he said.
“That’s if this goes well, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to go well as long as we get good audiences.
“So it would be lovely to have people come along and have a laugh, because you can never laugh too much.”
The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s production of A Christmas Carol is at the Potato Shed 8pm on Friday, 22 March and 1pm and 8pm on Saturday, 23 March.
