TOADS’ The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production Of Hamlet – 13 May 2026, St John’s Church
Review by Lou Taylor.
I have just been to see the opening night of TOADS May production. Directed by Alan Wade, who also writes plays for this group, this is a farcical comedy which comes with a health warning…You will laugh and you will chuckle or even cackle, however your funny bone will be tickled. Don’t fight it, just let it take you in the moment and see members of TOADS as you’ve never seen them before.
On arrival, you will be cordially met and greeted by Mrs Phoebe Reece (Sarah Scott), a confident leader of the guild. Her team are there to hand out a special theatre programme for Macbeth, their entry in a drama festival. The play adjudicator, Mr George Peach is positioned on a little platform at the front of the stage. He is portrayed as a quiet, unassuming man by Rob Studd. The outfit maketh the man and keep your eyes peeled on him. A lovely role for Rob. However before their play can start, Mrs Reece is flocked by her team asking if they can join in, fill in the gaps where needed. After all, having been to all the rehearsals, they know the script and are super keen to help. She allows this and the play begins.
If you are a regular at TOADS, you will know they excel with detailed sets and pay attention to set dressing. What we have here is a scaled back set consisting of a black backdrop with castle arches. Much action also takes place in front of and behind the curtains as chaos ensues. We are presented with the rear view of the set. The actors enter the stage and then deliver their opening lines with their backs to us. As people go on and off, we see the next actor preparing to go on. I loved this. The play in a play concept is brilliant and requires focus at rehearsals.
The saying goes “do not have your bottom to the audience”, but in this play, you really do see backs of heads and a switch from the ensemble cast being a character and then another. A shout out to the cast now – without spoilers but you all have worked so well and taken us in completely.
Mrs Reece – she knows everything and everyone. She makes a cameo in scenes and if you don’t see her, you can hear her organising everyone. Slightly forgetful and delivers a fruit salad when talking to Mr Peach, Lemon, Plum etc. The slight skip-hop which Sarah did to deliver a letter to Lady Macbeth was just joy. Can you see me? No oh dear I am not here really, carry on as they say. Sarah first played Dawn in her 1997 debut with Toads. This graduation to Mrs Reece is another memorable role which she plays with ease. Minnie aka Banquo et al. Hats off to Hannah Morrell for her physical energy and diversity. The opening “I can’t speak, I’ve lost my voice” was pure fun. Gestures, eye rolling, a face mask, the later scene, in which she appears as an apparition with the bloodied sheet as she was wheeled on, we all laughed.
Felicity aka witch et al – A spritely performance from Katie Salt and oh that cackle! It looked like she enjoyed every minute on stage. A funny lady with super expressions. Dawn aka witch et al – a role played by Rachael Bennie with the right amount of timing and engagement. She needed to be deadpan, uninterested and then really fast speaking to get her lines out came across perfectly. Losing her glasses and crawling around on stage while others carried on – well choreographed. Kate aka witch et al – Nice to see Jenni Keen giving it everything and being pulled to and fro. Very accident-prone but what a resilient member of the Women’s Guild. The props and wheelchair dance routine was entertaining.
Henry aka Lady Macbeth – Michael Dempsey is a joy to watch, you may have seen him act with other local drama groups. Comic timing is his thing. His costume was perfect and the arm swishing just made it even more effective. I suspect that rehearsals were very funny.
Plummer – the put upon director of the Women’s Guild dramatic group. Ian Stuart had good reason to lose the plot when Mr Peach explains they have 9 minutes left to complete their play. What follows is cut scenes and an injection of assertiveness. His stepping in to read was engaging especially as he’d ramble and merge the words. A fun role for Ian. Adrian – we see him as crew member with a penchant to step in and fill a gap later. David Drabble gives this delivery with good diction and enthusiasm.
Valerie – another member of the stage crew and played with a shrewdness by Sarah Neal. I’ve seen her in many roles and loved seeing this range. A small role but memorable. Freda – lovely to see Jenni Gray back on stage. She has a great smile but I loved the way she split from being Freda telling the lighting crew “lights out” then being the extra stuck in a loop with Valerie and Henry. Sometimes, actors do get stuck in a loop. This section of the play was funny for the right reasons, people staying in character “in character”.
Thelma aka Macbeth – Alice Bird, I did not leave you to last but I loved how you made this character your own. Great costume and all that Shakespeare! A very entertaining version of Macbeth with lovely chemistry with Lady Macbeth. The flip from forthright feisty Thelma to the proud manly MacBeth was delightful. I hope the mascara beard washes off okay.
Well done to Jonathan Dray for being Mrs Reece’s raffle winner.
A question for the Props team, wow where did you source all those crazy props? Alan’s list must have been like Mrs Reece’s shopping list. Great job on getting everything. Props and backstage tasks are often done by the same people effortlessly. Seeing it all come together in play week is an achievement. Ps Mrs Taylor, some very creative props made.
If you go and see TOADS this week, you will be in for a treat. You get two programmes too!
