ONCE again transforming into The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society, Richmond Amateur Dramatic Society pulled off a splendidly chaotic evening of botched lines, collapsing scenery, badly improvised props and mistimed sound effects.

The accompanying F.A.H.E.T.G.D.S programme, typewritten but manually corrected, was packed with hilariously superfluous detail for extra authenticity.

Jordon Leighton was superbly inept as late substitution Gordon Pugh. Taking the role of Inspector O’Reilly, he had accidentally displayed himself with his trousers round his ankles within the opening minutes.

Audrey, played by Barbara Hughes, brought to life several Bishop family females, but could not quite control herself whenever the slightest hint of innuendo could be inferred. The double act of Thelma and Audrey as spinster aunts Rose and Violet provided good old fashioned comedy, which was rivalled only by the sight of the newly murdered dead bodies having to assist in their own removal from the stage.

The incongruity of a murder mystery including a romantic duet from a musical was funny in itself, but Thelma (Julie Winn) as Daphne Bishop and the aforementioned Inspector excelled themselves. Miming I Could be Happy with You, they skilfully managed to swap singing parts while dancing awkwardly around the stage.

Alex Caffery perfectly played the deadpan Felicity whose main part was as Pawn the butler, but the star of the evening was Suzy Brown. She took the role of Mrs Reece – the "motivating force" behind F.A.H.E.T.G.D.S. – who adapted the play, directed it, took no fewer than four parts herself and still managed to stage a Fashion Show and Quiz during the interval.

Gary Winn, who describes the experience of directing as akin to Les Dawson playing the piano badly, did an excellent job of putting together a truly dire F.A.H.E.T.G.D.S production, which the RADS audience loved. Great fun.

Christina McIntyre