Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

Benicia Old Town Theatre is serving up their latest offering, Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen?s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery (hereinafter referred to as FAHETGDSMM). The play, written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin, Jr., is a typical British farce about a small town ladies? social club putting on a play for the locals. Of course, everything that can go wrong, does, and the guild serves up a disaster. Unfortunately, in spite of an obviously talented and dedicated cast and crew, FAHETGDSMM suffers a similar lack of polish.

Production values are good. The set has a lot to commend it, and is nearly a character itself. With falling flats that are replaced upside-down, curtains that tumble, and furniture that collapses or breaks, it nearly takes on a life of its own and adds to the charm of this mildly funny play. Working windows, and the practical light on stage that is cued in confusion with the telephone, provide great opportunities for the actors to get a laugh.

Costuming designed by Dyanne Vojvoda and Donna Telpak, had some real bright spots. Especially clever were the transitions for Rose Marie Sweeney, who played a variety of characters (five to be exact) that required some quick changes backstage. It was also fun to see Catie Ullman arrive on stage with her mustache in various locations and states of attachment while she made her own transitions from character to character. A similar attention to detail for the other characters would have enhanced the comic bits.

The premise of the play is based in reality. Nearly every small village in Britain has a community theatre for legitimate plays, and offers a pantomime at Christmastime. If there is one thing that the British know how to do, and do well, it is theatre. An understanding of the world of the play is the underpinning of this farce. In the case of Benicia Old Town Theatre, it seems that they don?t understand the traditions that govern that world well enough to properly break them, and the comedy suffers as a result.

Sweeney does an admirable job of carrying this show, but it is not enough to lift this production out of mediocrity. The characters are all one-dimensional, and this is too bad because the audience cannot laugh at characters who don?t believe in themselves, no matter how absurd they may be. It is impossible to see much contrast between the actor and their roles as they attempt to perform ?Murder at Checkmate Manor.? There are an abundance of missed opportunities simply because no one embraces their ?non-actor? character as a legitimate person. As a result, the entire play is peopled with over-the-top play acting all the time so that when their attempt at theatre goes awry their ?bad acting? fails to attain comedic heights.

Stephen Scott plays the backstage tech that is pressed into filling in onstage at the last minute. He speaks with a very upper-crust British accent, and they miss an opportunity for the stereotypical, dim-witted and nervous handyman with a Cockney accent. Not only does he not appear nervous to be suddenly onstage and unprepared, he really knows his lines pretty well, and doesn?t even hide his script in his sleeve! It would be great fun if Vickie Zabarte, who plays the local beauty queen, was the one person onstage that knows everybody?s lines (and mouths them) so that she could coach him along with hints and charades. She does do a little of this, but more would be funnier.

Besides pacing and characterization issues, the storyline needs to be more precisely drawn so that the audience can share the angst when things go awry. Because the pitfalls of a stage play are familiar to the performers, it seems simple to perform a script like this and easily amuse the audience; it is not. The audience needs to be in on the joke before they can laugh. It would improve this show if more attention were paid to what is ?real? and what is an embarrassing ?error.? More sight gags and sound effects when things are thrown backstage would help as well.

Richard Ryan directed this show, and his write-up in the program shows a long list of plays that have garnered Arty Award nominations in the past. Why he lost vision for this play is a mystery. Chalk it up to thinking that farce is easy to do, and all the humor is right there in the script. While this show is not a complete melt-down, it could use a healthy dose of energy, recognizable stock characters, and clarification for the audience. FAHETGDSMM is playing at the historic B.D.E.S. Hall in Benicia through 13 May.

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