An enthusiastic Ian had explained to the 5 volunteers, that we were going to perform a play-within-a-play in the style of ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’. None of us realized how true that was going to be! We were cast to play as the hapless but devoted members of the Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society who ambitiously would each take on several roles to perform ‘Murder at Checkmate Manor’ where everything ends up going haywire.
Jenny was cast as Felicity who played the part of Pawn and Colonel King. Unfortunately after a bad fall, she had to drop out. So, Jill was invited to take the role on, but it turned out that the rehearsal date clashed with a funeral, so Sue Seth stepped up and came to the one and only rehearsal. We practised reading the lines, using the various props to show the different characters. Ian had almost sorted out the sound effects and music, so we felt we were ready for our performance. What could possibly go wrong? Well that was tempting fate, wasn’t it?
Unfortunately, the replacement for the replacement had to be replaced due to ill health. Luckily with the funeral over, Jill could now pick up the role for the actual performance. She was given at least 15 minutes to read the script and get up to speed- what a trooper she was and rose to the occasion admirably. Maggie was kept busy playing 4 different characters with such different voices while Nancy was swopping characters from a flirtatious young lady to an elderly spinster! I had the easy role of Inspector O’Riley so only one part to play!
Tim and Elizabeth kindly offered their lovely home as the venue; again as ‘replacements’ due to Jenny’s accident! The invited audience having partaken of a glass or two were invited to sit down and to let the fun begin. Ian welcomed them to Checkmate Manor where various members of an extended family were each set to inherit a fortune from a recently deceased patriarch but are killed off one by one ! The cast sat behind a long wooden table with our props spread in front of us. Jacqueline, wearing a rather splendid hat, stood up to start the play as the character Mrs. Reece who also rather confusingly played the parts of Clarissa Rook, Patricia Bishop, Laeticia, Bishop, Regine the maid and Mr. Goodbody the family solicitor. A different hat, maid’s cap and feather duster, riding hat and a crop and a tie helped the audience identify the different characters!
As this was just a reading, the audience were asked to use their imagination to see the stage set as described by Ian, who announced the calamities and disasters as they occurred. (Personally, I was quite relieved that some of the actions were only read out- especially when I was supposed to be hit by a missing book being thrown on to the stage!) What with the imaginary flats supposedly collapsing, missed cues, forgotten lines, mistimed entrances and misplaced props, general chaos ensued as the family members were bumped off by the murderer as he ‘fulfills his grisly task.’ In the second act more confusion arises when ‘the murderer’ is called offstage to rush home to look after an injured daughter! With quick thinking Mrs Reece rallies round to rewrite the ending and provides the final inventive twist!
It was indeed all good fun (all be it a much slimmed down version). Ian seemed delighted that at long last, after several decades, he had once again been able to direct Checkmate Manor,, his wife Dorter’s favourite play! The big question now is ; ……..will this go onto to be a full scale performance?
The afternoon slipped into evening as glasses of wine and a delightful array of delicious canapés were happily consumed while members had a chance to catch up with each other. Another splendid social for members of the ETC
Melodie Minty