Review for "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery," McKinney Repertory Theatre

            The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery

A Comedy by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin, Jr.

Directed by Evelyn Davis

Produced by McKinney Repertory Theatre

Reviewed by Glynda Welch

When a play is labeled a comedy even though its title says it is a murder mystery, you know you can expect the unexpected. The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery presented by McKinney Repertory Theatre is a riotous romp of mishaps with a side of sabotage. Director Evelyn Davis guides a cast of five who play a total of 17 characters onstage and in the audience. The FAHETGDS ladies are presenting their big production which includes not only Murder at Checkmate Manor, but also a pre-show pageant meet-and-greet and a fashion show at intermission. Confusing, but in the most delightful way.

Phoebe (played by Teri Lynn Williams), Thelma (played by Chelsi Jones), Felicity (played by Kate Beckett), and Audrey (played by Laura Sosnowski) are ladies of the guild who join forces to mount the show. They receive an assist from Gordon, played by Chuck Barlow, who joins the show reluctantly and at the last moment to replace an injured guild member. I would be remiss if I didn’t include Stage Manager, Sienna Riehle whose onstage moments as the stage manager of the murder mystery are some of the highlights of the evening.

Onstage at the manor, everything that can go wrong does go wrong, from broken & missing props, to actors leaving out pages of dialogue, to delayed entrances to …   Anyone who has ever been onstage will appreciate the timing and skill required for these actors to lay bare the backstage nightmares normally kept from the audience. 

In the murder mystery Williams plays three aristocratic ladies, a French maid, and a male attorney who shows up to read the will. Jones primarily plays the dilettante Daphne. Also credited with choreography Jones has an official dance number, but her entire portrayal of Daphne is a dance. She also takes a turn as an invalid spinster aunt. Beckett delights as the devious butler Pawn and Colonel King. Sosnowski’s Lady Doreen Bishop is elegant and in control, providing a fun contrast for her appearance as an archaeologist. She also appears as an invalid and the colonel’s wife. Inspector O’Reilly (Barlow) becomes the romantic interest for Daphne and joins her for a soft shoe dance number complete with top hats and canes.

Davis serves as Set Designer and Master Carpenter as well as director. Light Design is by Ray Bratton, with Kaitlyn Compton as Lighting Tech. Sound Design is by Matthew Crawley, with Carl Askew as Sound Tech. Costume Design by Teresa Miller created a visual feast for the audience. Lauren Collins and Beverly German served as Wardrobe Assistants.

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery at McKinney Repertory Theatre continues through March 4. Get your tickets so you can go and laugh your way through all the murder and mayhem at Checkmate Manor. The McKinney Performing Arts Center, formerly a courthouse, is located on the square in downtown McKinney and is surrounded by a host of shops and restaurants. Tickets can be found at mckinneyrep.org.

Experience Live Theater!

Glynda Welch

Audience Rating: PG-13: mild sexual innuendo

Accessible Seating: Available

Hearing Devices: Not Available

Sensory Friendly Performance: N/A

Production Sound Level: Comfortable volume level

Noises or Visuals to Prepare For: Offstage gunshot and car crash sounds