“Good Evening from Beyond the Fringe” is at Warehouse PAC in Cornelius.
By CONNIE FISHER
DavidsonNews.net
The British have come to the Lake Norman region, not to conquer this time, but to share some fun. The wacky and farcical wit for which our ancestors across the pond are so well known is on view on two local stages. Davidson Community Players is producing the comedy “Farndale Avenue—A Christmas Carol” at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson, while The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius has Dudley Moore and Peter Cook’s witty “Good Evening from Beyond the Fringe.”
‘CHRISTMAS CAROL’
Nothing else could possibly go awry when the thoroughly disorganized troupe of so-called thespians from the “Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society” attempts to produce “A Christmas Carol.” And no one could be wackier than Nyra Brannan as Mrs. Reese as she simultaneously tries to organize the actors and appease the audience – all the while fortified by nips from a flask in a handbag large enough to hold a microphone she inadvertently carries offstage. The tall actress also plays the wee, crippled Tiny Tim.
Gloria King is a minute, energetic, temperamental, Ebenezer Scrooge. As she interacts with all the bungling Ferndale characters, Scrooge struggles to balance the importance of her leading role with the underhanded annoying friction created by the bossy Mrs. Reese. Her verbal on-stage “sound effects” are amazing—a responsibility, anywhere else but in Ferndale, usually relegated to off-stage technicians.
Rachel Jeffreys lives up to her professional background. Encumbered by a large neck-brace and probable back injuries from a supposed 47-car accident, she remains in character at all times as the clumsy Thelma playing multiple roles including a floundering Bob Cratchit.
Roger Watson is Farndale’s sole male player, as the bungling Gordon. He gives us one of the best scenes in the show as the ghost of Jacob Marley stuck in a door’s peep hole above the knocker, determined to scare the wits out of the miserly Scrooge.
One has to appreciate English humor to enjoy the sloppy shenanigans of these “unprofessional” dramatic society townswomen. They’re fun!
‘BEYOND THE FRINGE’
English humor rings loud and clear from “Beyond the Fringe” at The Warehouse. Four accomplished actors perform non-stop vignettes of British farce in two acts that are very funny. Only the Brits could greet one another as Homburg- and umbrella-clad Jim Esposito and Dominic Weaver so cordially perform in the opener, “Hello.” Thereafter they never let up. The performances by Scott Stanton and Berry Newkirk also are unique and commendable—Newkirk’s “Speech Impod” is superb.
The second act is a spoof on religious norms—as the “sinner” suggests to the vicar, “take the violence off the streets and into the church where it belongs.” They carry on everywhere, from the “Royal Box” to “The End of the World” or “Sitting on the Bench.” Some sketches, perhaps, are a bit too long, but for the most part are very funny—especially if you’re a devotee of British farce. It’s special. Besides, theater is a treat when the Cooks are involved. Don Cook is the production manager and his wife, the accomplished actor, Divina, designed the set and sound.
WANT TO GO?
Both shows continue this weekend. “Good Evening from Beyond the Fringe” opens at 8pm Thursday through Saturday at The Warehouse, 2916-A Westmoreland Road, Cornelius. Tickets and reservations at 704-425-5564 or from www.warehousepac.com.
“Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol” continues at 8pm Thursday through Saturday at the Davidson Community Players’ Armour Street Theatre. There are two performances on Sunday, at 2 and 7 pm. Tickets and reservations at 704-892-7953 or online at www.DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org.
