Murder at Checkmate Manor!

Farndale Avenue Housing Estate’s Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society (try their best to) present Murder at Checkmate Manor! This shemozzled murder mystery of chaotic good fun had its audience torn between laughing at the blunders and cringing at the cast.

Centenary Theatre Group
Chelmer Community Centre, Brisbane

Saturday, 14 November, 2009

Farndale Avenue Housing Estate’s Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society (try their best to) present Murder at Checkmate Manor! This shemozzled murder mystery of chaotic good fun had its audience torn between laughing at the blunders and cringing at the cast.

When four inexperienced ladies and a gentleman take it upon themselves to perform a whodunit, it’s amazing any one of them makes it out alive. With a set that resembles a war zone as walls collapse and props fly across the room, and a group of actors whose number one priority consists of shooting oneself in the final act, it’s a complete mess that surprisingly is thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

Watching this play, about people making a play, the audience quickly learn how difficult it must be to actually perform something badly. First, you must learn how it’s meant to be done, then how it shouldn’t be done, and then do it like that! Confused? So is this entire cast.

Selina Kadell, who plays Thelma Greenwood, played several roles in the thriller, most notably teenager Daphne Bishop. In her pigtails and tennis skirt her flirting with Inspector O’Reilly, played by Gordon Pugh – played by Nathan Cammerman, was devilishly hilarious. Cammerman was humble but not as heterosexual as I believe the Inspector was intended to be.

Jill Brocklebank as Phoebe Reece ran the show awfully – as she was meant to. She was especially amusing in her role as the maid who stole the limelight and re-wrote the ending to make herself the murderer!

Lady Doreen Bishop, played by Audrey Smythe, played by Honey Butz, had the audience laughing as she so insincerely mourned the sudden death of her sister.

Finally, the guilty butler, Pawn, played by Felicity, played by Kathleen Crome, had guilt written all over her furry face and was the most delightful murderer I have even seen on stage. Don’t worry, I haven’t given any of the mystery away.

Well done to the talented lights and sound people, Fiona Watson and Peter Hughes, for pulling off the most hideously timed cues on cue.

To point out the show’s flaws would be near impossible as that is its main feature. Only the Farndale crew could tell you if the upside-down fireplace, the constant dog barking, and muddled costume changes were intentional or not.

If this review has confused you, I have successfully set the scene for this wonderful production and I recommend you to go along and see it. If you still have doubts about the storyline, the fudge handed out beforehand and the prize presentation at interval might be enough to convince you.

Bookings at www.centenarytheatre.com.au

Until 5 December 2009