‘Tis the Season for a Festive Farce
What do you get when you combine three ghosts, ruthless rival actresses, snappy showtunes, a bearded lady, and a handful of tinsel? The Farndale Christmas Carol, playing November 22 through December 3.
TWU’s SAMC Theatre serves up something for everyone in this holiday favourite that proves disastrously funny. “It’s a play within a play,” explains Margaret Thorpe, a Langley Secondary grad. “So you have the story everyone loves, but it’s told by the most accident-prone group of actresses you can imagine.” Margaret plays an ailing actress who must perform roles like Bob Cratchit through a suffocating neckbrace.
The show must go on, and it does…bringing to life dozens of colourful characters as the ladies madly change costumes,sing, dance, and crash into furniture. Scrooge is in for the ride of her life.
“This spoof version of Dickens’ classic has become a theatre favourite, gracing stages all over the world and leaving torrents of laughter in its wake,” says Lloyd Arnett, who also directed last season’s hit comedy The Foreigner.
“For the Farndale actresses, chaos is an art form. Pretty much everything that could go wrong does,” Margaret adds. “It’s been a treat discovering the humour in the story of Scrooge, and enjoying some holiday stress relief, but at the same time telling the story of these well-meaning women who aren’t afraid to embarrass themselves in the spirit of Christmas. And if that’s not fun enough, we get to have a snowball fight onstage!”
Margaret Thorpe performs alongside Karyn Guenther, Daniele Neve, and Danielle Spampinato, with Benjamin Buckingham as the clumsy stage hand roped into playing 9 different parts. Costumes are designed by Michelle Lieffertz with lighting by Crystal Dodding.
Playing November 22 – December 3 at Trinity Western University, Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30pm with Saturday matinees at 2pm. Tickets range from $7 to $16 with 2-for-1 Tuesdays and special weeknight discounts. For show information and tickets, visit www.twu.ca/theatre or email theatre@twu.ca.
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