F.A.H.E.T.G. Murder Mystery, Minstead Players, Minstead Hall (From Daily Echo)

F.A.H.E.T.G. Murder Mystery, Minstead Players, Minstead Hall

10:58am Tuesday 22nd November 2011 in Curtain Call By Anne Waggott

THIS hilarious farce follows the antics of the four redoubtable ladies of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild attempting to present Murder at Checkmate Manor, an ambiguous and cunning Agatha Christie-style drawing room murder mystery that requires them to play all 14 roles (assisted by some unlikely sources) with hysterical results.

From the very first ‘catastrophe’ in the excellent set, the audience knew they were in for terrific entertainment!

The Salisbury film set the tone brilliantly before all the horrors that have been seen at one time or another in the Am- Dram world evolved before our eyes – actually well-directed and designed with good pace and great sound effects – all entirely incorrect, of course!

It’s almost churlish to single out individuals in such a strong ensemble production, but Stevie Parker (Thelma), Mary Hyde (Phoebe) and Ingrid Bond (Felicity) were brilliant at deliberate ham-acting and rabbit-inheadlight stage-fright.

A surreal mix of reality and fantasy – great fun!