Senior Play is a Cornucopia of Comic Chaos

The Wightman Studio played host to the (fictional) Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society and their competition performance of “Macbeth”.

This was Shakespeare as you’d never seen it before; taking its cue from the brilliant chaos of The Play That Goes Wrong, this year’s senior play was a unique and highly entertaining take on a timeless classic.

In all honesty, it didn’t go quite as producer, Mr Henry Plummer, or co-director, Mrs Reece, intended, although given the incompetence of their cast and crew they can’t really be blamed!

Sophia B as Mrs Reece set the tone instantly as the crazed control freak who tries, but fails, to stop her show falling apart.

Meanwhile, Woody J’s Mr Plummer was full of energy as he battled with a stage-hogging Witch and a stroppy Macbeth. When Plummer has to step in and perform three scenes’ worth of Macbeth’s soliloquies in approximately 30 seconds, Woody received genuinely well-deserved and spontaneous applause from the audience!

Meanwhile, the stroppy Macbeth was played to eye-rolling perfection by Mabel M who had the Farndale character of Thelma down to a tee. Watching her chase down a flying dagger and spotlight her own death scene with a pocket torch was eye-wateringly funny every night.

Mabel had able support from Mortimer D. He was playing Stage Manager, Henry, who is the only person left to play Lady Macbeth when the intended actress goes AWOL. Sporting a fetching pink and burgundy dress, Mortimer captured the deadpan humour of Henry’s predicament perfectly.

If a stroppy diva and a reluctant understudy weren’t bad enough, Minnie suffers from stage fright and Kate has a new-born baby and a broken leg to deal with – not ideal if you’re trying to play Banquo and Macduff respectively. Evie N played Minnie with comic perfection and amazing humility, showcasing the character’s complete incompetence on stage (far from Evie’s own excellent assurance). Sienna C used all her stamina and dexterity as Kate, navigating the whole first half on crutches and then the last part of the play in a wheelchair.

The supporting cast were an absolute delight. This was a true ensemble piece as every part intertwined and the success of the slapstick comedy dependent heavily on the well-drilled timings of every single person, on and off-stage. This was of particular importance in scenes involving Rowan T, playing the rather befuddled Roland, drafted in to play 1^st Murderer and resorting to using a tomato ketchup sachet as fake blood, and Georgina N, playing Rita, the Farndale actress responsible for playing the 2^nd Murderer and the Porter.

Emily H played the role of Daffeny with absolute gusto, knocking over set pieces left right and centre, and sending poor Banquo careering across the stage on a shopping trolley. Her scenes with Annie L-S, playing Bea who multi-roled various parts, were terrific in this respect.

Special mention has to go to the trio of Witches – Dawn, 108 year old Felicity, and Sharon, played gloriously by Liv O, Izzy L and Cecily J, who really came into their own though in the song and dance number, (I bet you don’t remember Little Mix’s Black Magic being in Macbeth…).

Tigo M gave a rousing performance of George “The Dramatic Giant” Peach, taking full command as he summed up proceedings at the end.

It’s such a shame for Farndale that their entire set collapsing at the end probably cost them their place in the Townswomen’s Guild Drama Area Finals in Welwyn Garden City, but at least the real King’s audience had a whale of a time!

Amidst this chaos, the student crew of Alice K, Ava F-I, Blythe T and Naomi L maintained total control, all under the illusion of everything going wrong.

The senior play was a rip-roaring week of theatre-making, with each and every cast member deserving of a huge congratulations.  We couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication that has gone into this production.