By Shirley Lorraine –
‘Tis the season of holiday theatrical offerings in many forms. This year’s award for staging something “a little different” as well as the longest title goes to Santa Paula Theatre Center for its current production of The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol written by David McGillvray and Walter Zerlin, Jr. and directed by Sarah Broughton.
The production is a frothy concoction of frivolity and farce in which a touring company from England attempt to bring their version of the Dickens classic to life, with more than a few calamities, only a handful of actors and local references to boot.
Led by Leslie Upson as Mrs. Reece, the lady in charge, the play gets off to a rocky start as a principal actor is supposedly stuck in traffic on the 101. Mrs. Reece presents the theater’s usual audience greeting and announcements with tongue firmly in cheek as all is tailored to Ventura County. This immediately pulls the audience into the premise and adds to the fun.
What follows is a constant stream of mishaps, miscommunications and missed cues, all parts of the show, of course. The audience is involved periodically throughout in banter, sing-a-longs and more. Upson does a wonderful job with all the ad-libs and keeps the action moving.
She is aided by John Webber who carries the sole male role of handyperson, props master and multiple characters. One of the troupe, Mercedes, played by Martha Benavides, is hampered by injuries yet still manages to pull off her assigned tasks. Karen Denny portrays Felicity, another actor who fills numerous gaps in the already truncated classic tale. Enter Victoria McGee (late to arrive from the freeway debacle) as Thelma. She brings the incomparable Ebenezer Scrooge to life.
The cast does their best to continue as obvious challenges arise. It isn’t as easy as it sounds to be deliberately “off” in so many ways, but this troupe manages it all with smiles and is rewarded with laughter from the audience. A sprinkling of the well-known Christmas Carol keeps the thread of continuity in place. Pratfalls, costume and prop issues and outright silliness are liberally spread throughout, all performed with apparent conviction.
For me, the most effective parts were those in which Upson involved the audience, staying in character as the organizer and major domo of the troupe whilst coping with all the ways in which flexibility in dealing with actors and unpredictability is required.
Those looking for a light-hearted performance to usher in the holidays will find Farnsdale….etc. a wonderful way to join in the fun. This is a family friendly show, so perhaps an excellent outing for introducing the younger set to live theater. They will certainly enjoy the planned chaos of the physical comedy and the quirky characters.
Farndale Christmas Carol continues Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through December 21, 2025. www.santapaulatheatercenter.org 805-5255-4645.
