Johnson City Community Theatre will present the hilarious farce The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townwomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of “Macbeth.” Performance dates are Aug. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.
The ladies of Farndale Avenue have the best intentions, but their acting skills give amateur a very bad name; bluntly stated: they can’t act. Even worse, technical mishaps, misplaced set pieces, and forgotten lines seem to follow the ladies like a black cloud from beginning to end. You may remember their massacre of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” on the JCCT stage in 2005.
Despite their constant bad luck, the Guild members battle on to the bitter end. And this time, the stakes are even higher. They are entering their production of Macbeth in a national drama competition, and a judge, Mr. George Peach, is in the audience to evaluate their performance (if that be an appropriate word).
Unfortunately, the show gets off to a wrong start and pretty much stays that way. The actress playing Lady Macbeth is missing, and another must engage in a sword battle while wearing a cast. Surely things can’t get any worse. But, of course, in true Farndale fashion, they do, and by the end of the evening, Shakespeare will be turning over in his grave!
The Guild members include the elegant but control freak Mrs. Phoebe Reece (Nancy Hope Major); Thelma (Sharon Salyers), a true prima donna; Felicity (Colleen Dunne), a well-meaning but terribly incompetent actress; Kate (Linda Wakely), an accident waiting to happen; Minnie (Pam Johnson), who must produce several monologues even though she has lost her voice; and Dawn (Anne Koehler), the “energizer bunny” who keeps on going, despite numerous obstacles.
Rounding out the cast are Brad Holt as Henry, the “hen pecked” stage manager; Bill Linne as Mr. Plummer, the abused producer; and Mike Lilly as Mr. Peach.
It’s an evening of laughter as we follow the intrepid ladies of Farndale in one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. But don’t be surprised if you leave the show debating which the real tragedy was: the story itself or the ladies’ attempt at producing it!
JCCT is located on the corner of Maple and Afton streets. The show is rated PG, and tickets are $10 for students and seniors (55 and up) and $12 for adults. For reservations, visit www.jcct.us or call (423) 926-2542.
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