CHASE ME UP FARNDALE AVENUE, S’IL VOUS PLAIT! (21st to 23rd November 2024)
Written by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jnr, the play revolved around the theatrical efforts of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society, a group of men and women with very similar sounding names trying to pursue an affair with each other’s wives and husbands in a Paris hotel. Add in some cross-dressing, mobile moustaches, a dippy French maid, a wooden stage manager taking an acting part, a newly discovered off-stage adulterous relationship with a 78 year old woman, frequent interventions from Mrs Reece, a liberal sprinkling of sound and lighting cues that are missed or messed up, sets that fall apart, doors that jam. With five possible entrances and exits, including an upside down door and a door with the handle on the wrong side, a collapsing bed, a table that was never in the right place and a human lampstand – what could possibly go wrong????
Reviewed By Brian Bennett (Morpeth Herald)
Morpeth St George’s Community Players took their audiences away to Paris when they tread the boards last week in the Church Hall with their autumn production.
In footballing terms, one of the most used phrases is ‘a game of two halves’.
For ‘Chase Me Up Farndale Avenue S’il Vous Plait’ – a farce by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jnr – it was a play of two acts!
The script for the first failed to inspire a very good audience, but the second certainly brought more laughs and was much more enjoyable.
A cast of five played 17 different characters and performed well on the night – no more so than Alan Bullock who was supported by debutant Suzi Hutton, Sue Rutherford, Bridget Rowbottom, Lena Walsh and a cameo guest appearance from Dave Coghill, whilst Jo Evans directed events.
Cast & Crew
Bridget Rowbottom – Felicity
Lena Walsh – Thelma
Suzi Hutton – Minnie
Alan Bullock – Gordon
Sue Rutherford – Mrs Reece
Dave Coghill – Cameo guest appearance
Karl Bovenizer – Prompt
Jo Evans – Director
Robin, Kevin & Stephen – Stage, Light & Sound
St George's Community Players 