The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society: “Chase Me Up Farndale Avenue, S'il vous plait!”

by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr.

17th June 2016

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

Another offering from the “Farndale” series described as “a comedy tres saucy” by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jnr. And this it certainly was with the five cast members playing several characters and even at times exchanging characters - the audience at times must have been completely confused – as I am sure the cast were!! In the great tradition of farce this was a superb production from the opening ”hoover” capers of Heather Adam Officer as Felicity the long legged French maid to the whole company performing an energetic can-can led by the excellent quartet of dancers – Chloe Christie, Aisling Doyle, Mary Miller, and Tamara Scherwitzel (memories of “Orpheus)! The main upholders of the great farce tradition of course were the members of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society entertaining their continental guests from Stonehaven-sur-Mer and the catastrophic happenings when things went awry. These were things which struck chords in all of us who have been involved in the amateur theatre – and probably professional too – with the wardrobe mistress who had to step in for a missing actor and read from the script, hilariously handled by Liz Forrest as Minnie. The chairman of the guild, Mrs Reece (Lynn Zaccarini) tried masterly to keep things under control while her friend Thelma (Freda Adams) was more interested in the goings-on of her husband and his “companion” in the lighting box. The sole male member of the cast, Gordon (Tim Roberts) landed in every farcical situation imaginable with the ladies – and the cross-dressing “males” as well. A number of technical happenings like collapsing sets, upside-down doors and sound mishaps all added to the fun. An absolutely outstanding evening of good old-fashioned comedy played by a very talented group of actors. Thank you Ury players.

Aladdin

by David McGillivray

11th December 2015

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

Opening with a very impressive Abanazar (Andrew Dart) in his palace this traditional panto proceeded to entertain with top rate performances by a very talented cast. Mary Miller was a very energetic and demonstrative Wishee Washee and Garry Brindley gave an outstanding performance as Widow Twankey, keeping the comedy of the piece moving at a great pace. More comedy was ably provided by Heather Adams Officer and Liz Forrest as the two policemen Ping and Pong, giving the audience plenty to cheer about. Kirsty Lockhart carried off the traditional principal boy role with ease as Aladdin and Tamara Scherwitzel was an extremely attractive Princess Jasmine nicely supported by Heather Smith as her companion So-Fa. In the role of the Emperor of China we saw Douglas Clark as a somewhat new character for him!  More comedy was provided by Russell Adams as the Genie of the Lamp and Tim Roberts was the Slave of the Ring. With a very competent troupe of dancers, and well balanced singing chorus and a superb range of costumes and many local references, the show provided excellent pre-Christmas entertainment for the enthusiastic audience.

Dirty Dusting

by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood

19th June 2015

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

This production was promoted as "a hilarious adult comedy." This it certainly was with a capital 'A' for adult. This play certainly required a broad mind and providing you realized this, it was a complete hoot from start to 'revealing finale!!' The piece, brilliantly written by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, tells the story of three elderly cleaners who are faced with being replaced by an agency made up of younger, more efficient 'environmental hygiene improvement operatives' as part of a money saving 'rationalisation process'. Elsie (Lynn Zaccarini), Gladys (Liz Forrest) and Olive (Freda Adams) are determined that they are not ready for the scrap heap and plan to prove it. As their final weekend of employment looms they decide to come up with a way of pepping up their pay-offs and inspiration comes in the form of several 'funny phone calls'. The three decide that they will set up a sex chatline from the office and hence the 'Telephone Belles' open for business. As you can imagine the humour is decidedly rude, crude and near to the bone-not to mention other parts of the anatomy! However it is written and directed so skilfully that we - and the rest of the audience - spent most of the two hours doubled over in hysterics. The one-liners came thick and fast from the brilliantly portrayed three ladies hardly giving us time to catch our breath. The three women were given the perfect foil in the shape of Dave their bossy supervisor, played for all its worth by Garry Brindley. The three brilliant actresses were never off the stage and not one single prompt was heard. An excellent production with a very well designed and constructed set made for a hilarious evening of farce, obviously enjoyed to the full by a near capacity audience. Well done Ury Players.

Space Odyssey: The Pantomime

by Russell Adams

12th December 2014

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

This original story, written by director Russell Adams told of the efforts of a spaceship captain and his wife to find a suitable lady friend for their somewhat "challenged" son Horace. As the villainous, but henpecked captain Vlad, Douglas Clark was in excellent form. With clear diction and impressive scarlet costume he commanded the stage and everyone on it apart from his wife Svetlana (Freda Adams) who controlled him! Other spaceship crew members included Spick and Speck (Mary Miller and Emily Esson) who carried the comedy of the piece with ease. Love-lorn Horace was ably played by Robert Affleck who was suitably spoiled by his domineering mother. Final crew member was iPatch the computer, cleverly depicted and played by Bill Barclay. Leading the "earthlings" was Nellie Packit, superbly portrayed by Garry Brindley, the superbly traditional panto dame, who managed to include "commercial breaks" for the company's sponsors. As the ever-necessary fairy Sophie Angus was beautiful but could have projected a bit more to cope with the lack of microphone assistance. The romantic couple, Bonnie Packit (Rosie Hall) and Prince Valiant (Kirsty Lockhart) were in excellent voice and the talented cast was completed by Pete Smith as Costa Packit and Tim Roberts as the robot Gordon - he WAS alive!! Beautiful costumes and well-drilled choreography by the young chorus made for a most enjoyable evening of panto. Well done.

a fETE wORSE tHAN dEATH

by Richard James

20th June 2014

Reviewer: Douglas J. Clark

Stonehaven Town Hall was transformed into the village green of  Thornton, a typical English village, on the day of the annual fete – complete with sideshows and stalls and festooned with colourful bunting. The stage had been turned into the Home Produce and Vegetable marquee, the setting for Richard James’s comedy mystery, ready for the evening’s entertainment. And entertainment the full house audience certainly got from the cast of 7 and the script full of red herrings and witty dialogue! Pete Smith, a last minute cast replacement, played the part of the irritating Malcolm obsessed with winning the largest marrow competition very well. His murder towards the end of Act 1 was not unexpected!  Heather Adams Officer as Bunny, his long suffering and neglected wife, was excellent as was Mary Miller as Trish the put-upon and overworked fete organiser. Tim Roberts, as the less than honest Father Mike, looked every inch the typical village vicar. Andrew Dart, as Nigel the historical re-enactor and admirer of Bunny, in his Viking warrior costume and increasing intoxication was hilarious. We had our victim, we had our suspects but who was going to solve the murder! This was in the hands of the wonderful comic pairing of Garry Brindley and Liz Forrest as TV detective Inspector Brady aka Ray Martin and his greatest fan local spinster Violet Parmenter. Almost “Rosemary and Thyme”-ish they worked their way through each of the suspects until stumbling on the truth almost by accident! Who did kill Malcolm? Well as the old adage has it – many hands make light work! Well done everyone concerned for a delightful summer’s evening entertainment.  

Peter Pan

by

6th December 2013

Reviewer: Douglas J. Clark

This pantomime version of the well known story was adapted for the society by the Director and so played to the strengths of the large cast beautifully. Catriona Macdonald as Peter Pan played the part with just the right mix of daydreaming and thigh-slapping bravado and interacted well with Ailsa Mackintosh’s sweet portrayal of Wendy Darling. Andrew Cameron’s Captain Hook was suitably overbearing and eminently boo-able and was ably assisted in his dastardly deeds by Emily Esson’s Smee. Also in his crew were Mainsail and Rigging, played by Kirsty Lockhart and Pete Smith respectively, whose comic antics had the audience in stitches. Garry Brindley as the toyshop owner Dotty Darling, was truly outrageous and the song and dance routine with Russell Adams’s Chief Passingwater, to Love Is In The Air, had everyone in fits of laughter and with tears running down their faces!  Andrew Dart played the ever-so-proper John Darling well and his romancing of Mary Miller’s Tiger Lily was delightful. Assisting with Hook’s downfall were two wonderfully doric–sounding comic rats Bubonic and Plague played by Freda Adams and Liz Forrest and his nemesis the Crocodile played with a lovely welsh accent by Tim Roberts. Flitting in and out of all the action was Olivia Park as a beautiful Tinkerbell. The large chorus of, at various times, pirates, townspeople and Red Indians moved and sang well. The sets were bright and colourful and I particularly liked the use of an extension to the front of the stage as the lagoon from which the Crocodile made his entrances. The hard work put in by the cast, crew and production team shone through and once again the Ury Players gave the local community an excellent evening’s entertainment.

Murdered to Death

by Peter Gordon

21st June 2013

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

Once again the welcome at Stonehaven Town Hall was an exceptionally warm one and the hall was decorated as part of Bagshot House, the setting for this Peter Gordon comic spoof with strong flavours of Agatha Christie. The piece opened with a delightfully sung "Let's Face the Music" by Catriona Macdonald which set the scene for the lady of the house Mildred - nicely played by Lynn Zaccarini and her niece Dorothy (Emily Esson) to set the scene for the ensuing mystery. The droll butler Bunting (Russell Adams) made a spectacular entrance to introduce dotty Colonel Craddock (Douglas Clark) and his domineering wife Margaret (Liz Forrest). More guests appeared in the person of snotty Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington (Heather Adams Officer) and French (?) art dealer Pierre Marceau (Tim Roberts). The final guest, albeit uninvited, was Miss Maple (Freda Adams). Following the mysterious shooting of the hostess with the Colonel's mislaid revolver, Constable Thompkins (Pete Smith) and Inspector (acting) Pratt (Andrew Cameron) entered to take over the proceedings - and the comedy with the aptly-name Pratt confusing everyone, including himself, resulting in many hilarious incidents, including a David Jason style fall through the dining room door!. Ury Players also included an interval quiz for the audience to name the murderer(s), which I'm afraid I only got half right. Thanks again, for a most enjoyable evening of well-produced and acted theatre.

King Arthur - a Pantomime Adventure in Camelot

by Paul Reakes

7th December 2012

Reviewer: Brian McDonald

It’s pantotime in Stonehaven – Oh yes it is!! After a mystical opening we arrive at the colourful court of Camelot. Enter King Arthur with his domineering Queen Guinnie. Both were played excellently by Tim Roberts and Garry Brindley respectively. They were well matched on the dark side by Morgana and her son Mordred. Helen McMillan oozed wickedness while Andrew Dart’s Mordred was splendid. His Beck’s mumsy voice was hilarious. Russell Adam’s Merlin let slip there could be a “Murrderrr”, sending the audience into hysterics. On the side of good Emily Esson’s Sally Simple was superb, ably abetted by Peter Smith as her boyfriend Squirt the Squire. Lois Donaldson and Kirsty Lockhart were a personable pair as principal girl and boy Olivia and Lancelot. The costuming was imaginative particularly the dragons and ghouls. These used movement to good effect. We all left happily at the end due especially to an excellent production cleverly conceived by Douglas Clark. A great night out!

‘Allo, ‘Allo

by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft

15th June 2012

Reviewer: Ron Stewart

Stonehaven Ury Players production was dedicated to a former member who loved a good story about the war and this was certainly a good story about the war superbly produced and acted. The atmosphere was set right from the opening of the doors with a welcome to Café Rene with excellent accordion music in the continental style by David Martin. The café tables were well decorated and I must thank Reg. Rep. Douglas for the fine picnic box which he kindly left us while off on the high seas! The cast, of course, had to be compared with the television show and compare they certainly did. Kevin Newstead was an excellent Rene and made the most of every comic double entendre, ably supported by Liz Forrest as his talented? wife Edith. No Café Rene would be complete without the glamorous waitresses and this we had in Kirsty Lockhart and Lois Donaldson as Yvette and Mimi respectively. Equally appropriate were Rachel Smart as Michelle and Peter Esson (Leclerc). In the German camp special mention must be made of Murray Deans a former youth members who stepped in at extremely short notice to take over the role of Lieutenant Gruber on the unfortunate illness of Andrew Dart – and a faultless performance he gave. Emily Esson was an excellent Helga and her scenes with Herr Flick (Tim Roberts) were hilarious. Others in the large cast were in excellent form and Heather Adams Officer made the most of her jumbled lines as Officer Crabtree. All in all an extremely enjoyable evening of comedy theatre. Thank you, Ury Players.