The Tense Cafe Encounter

The curtain rises on Act Two, unveiling a charged exchange between Guy and Hannah within the confines of a local cafe. Over recent months, Guy has shed his former image of a meek underdog and emerged as a charismatic local charmer. Entangled in a web of affairs, he juggles his passionate involvement with Hannah, who harbors deep feelings for him, alongside a liaison with Fay, who persists in her efforts to entangle him in the BLM land scam. Desperate, Hannah corners Guy, demanding he choose between the two women.

Comic Rivalry

Suddenly, Fay strides in, igniting a humorous verbal skirmish that mirrors the catty rivalry between Polly and Lucy in The Beggar’s Opera. Enraged, Hannah storms off. Fay seizes the moment to remind Guy that she secured him the part of Filch—a notable promotion—implying with a menacing undertone that he owes her a favor in return.

Repeating Patterns

As the drama unfolds, the rivalry between Hannah and Fay echoes in the clash between Bridget, cast as Jenny Diver, and Linda, vying over Crispin, who plays Macheath. After Hannah and Linda leave the stage, Guy attempts to warn Jarvis about the schemes threatening his land, but Jarvis is too absorbed in recounting an old family tale to notice.

Blind Confessions

Dafydd makes his entrance, blissfully unaware of Guy's affair with Hannah. To complicate matters, he confides in Guy about his own marital woes, grumbling that Hannah is as cold as a deep-freeze. Yet, knowing the truth about Hannah, the audience concludes that the fault lies with Dafydd. The scene draws to a familiar close: following Crispin's abrupt exit, the role of Macheath is left open. Rebecca nudges Guy to fill the vacancy, and predictably, he concedes.

A Tempting Offer

In a musical segue, Guy, as Macheath, voices a song that transitions the scene to Rebecca Huntley-Pike's garden. The mysterious rumor about the BLM land deal is traced back to Rebecca. Lured by the offer, Guy pockets a five-hundred-pound payoff from Jarvis, inching ever closer to becoming Macheath in both role and reality.

The Unraveling Rehearsal

As the lights shift, the cast immerses themselves in a final dress rehearsal. Guy dons his Macheath costume; his next act, rejecting Hannah, aligns perfectly with his stage persona, cementing his complete transformation. Their farewell is repeatedly disrupted by a frantic Dafydd, preoccupied with lighting adjustments for the performance.

The Collapse of the Scheme

Chaos ensues when Ian bursts in, announcing the collapse of BLM. The land scam has fallen through, and the disillusioned cast turns on Guy. Ian exposes Hannah and Guy's affair to Dafydd, who also turns his back on Guy.

The Ambiguous Finale

The concluding scene of A Chorus of Disapproval mirrors the final act of The Beggar’s Opera. The players dramatize Macheath's final reprieve, the curtain descends, and the cast embraces in a semblance of unity. Yet, the audience, mindful of the play's opening, anticipates the looming rejection of Guy. The ending lingers in ambiguity—a dual celebration of Guy's rise as Macheath and an acknowledgment of the turmoil he has incited.