Farndale Avenue Christmas Carol: A Comedic Christmas Play at Historic Highfield

The farce’s full name is “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate’s Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol,” featuring a quintet of British would-be actors who end up mangling Charles Dickens’s classic tale of redemption.   Laura Garner is the director.  Lisa Jo Rudy is the stage manager and Peter D. Cook is the set designer along with Jean Stern serving as costumer.

Leading the charge is Mrs. Phoebe Reece (played by the Widow Doyle), the society’s Grand Dame, who lustily takes on roles ranging from adorable Tiny Tim to frightening Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Her nemesis Thelma Greenwood (Cathy Smith) happily chomps on the scenery and her fellow actors in her portrayal of Ebeneezer Scrooge. 

Injured but determined Mercedes Bentley (Milo Caruso) manages her pain more eagerly than her performances as Bob Cratchit, Belle, and a schoolboy. Former child star Felicity Jane Hudson (Bonnie Fairbanks) stretches her wings as multiple characters, including the top half of the Ghost of Christmas Present, a snowman, and Scrooge’s nephew Fred. 

Stage manager Gordon Pugh (R. Todd Sadler) has been dragged onstage to play the bottom half of the Ghost of Christmas Present, the Ghosts of Jacob Marley and Christmas Past, and Mrs. Cratchit.

First presented in 1987 at the renowned Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the comedy is one of a group of plays concerning the ladies of Farndale Avenue and their doomed theatricals. The Farndale plays came before any of the better known “goes-wrong” shows recently gracing Broadway and television.

Falmouth Theatre Guild is pleased to offer a refreshing and comedic alternative to the usual holiday fare. Performances are Dec. 2-11 at 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays, 4pm.

For Tickets and info :  www.FalmouthTheatreGuild.org