Chip Shop Chips 

 April 12th, 13th, 19th & 20th 2024 

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Description

'Chip Shop Chips' by Becky Prestwich,  reeled the audiences in as we completely sold in in weeks.

Audiences stepped through the doors of the newly refurbished Booth and Sons Fish and Chip restaurant on their grand reopening for an entertaining evening that proved to be off the scale!

Eric Booth has returned to his hometown after forty years to save the family business, when a blast from his past arrives who doesn't hold back from sharing her memories of yesteryear and looking for one last adventure.  A funny and heart warming immersive play set to the backdrop of Northern Soul and nostalgia.

Similar to our record sell-out Wild West show, audiences were treated to a fintastic themed supper  and bar service whilst sat round tables. ​

Cast:
Eric Booth - Warren Palmer 
Christine (Nan) - Ceri Nicolson 
Lee - Lukas James 
Jasmine - Jody Cook 

Director

Pip Richards 

Chip Shop Chips photo gallery...

NODA Review: Chip Shop Chips 

Society                : Lane End Players
Production         : Chip Shop Chips
Date                     : 13 April 2024
Venue   :             : Lane End Village Hall
Report by           : Judith Watsham

Thank you for inviting me to your Spring production and also for the fish and chips which were part of the package this time.  Sorry we seemed to have got our wires crossed as I brought a companion (as I do more often than not of course) but thank you Paul for making room and finding food for my granddaughter – we both really loved the production.
 
This was certainly very different – and Pip Richards, making her directorial debut, certainly did an excellent job.  I really appreciated the fact that she gave me so much time both before the show and during the interval to discuss her ideas and feelings about the play.  Thank you, too, Ceri,, for finding me after the show and having a word.
 
First of all, the set which, due to the fact that we, the audience, were supposed to be eating at tables in the   shop, facing the set which was nearly all on our level, could have posed some problems but did not.  It was the little touches which counted – from the notice board outside the Village Hall announcing the grand reopening of Booth & Sons Fish & Chip Shop to the tiled and papered walls, lino floor and appropriate signs on the existing hall doors which provided the cast exits and entrances, it all looked superb, as did the audience’s tables with their blue checked plastic cloths.  I particularly liked the addition of a mocked up old photo of Booth and Sons outside the shop decades ago.
 
Do you have photos, with and without cast, including a view of the audience seating?  If so, I would like to consider them for possible entry to next year’s NODA London set awards.  Congratulations to all involved on this one.
 
Lighting and Sound were both excellent and as they were run from an elevated position on the stage, I think you all got a good view of the results of your work.  Good fades and the 60s/70s Northern Soul disco music came over well.
 
A most effective off-stage kitchen fire worked well and the blazing pan looked horrendous.  Well done to your SM Peter Rose, for managing this.
 
Costumes worked well and looked just right for each of the four characters.
 
I also enjoyed the interaction between audience and those of your members who threw themselves into the role of waiting staff – especially the surly drinks waiter!
 
As I have already indicated this play only has four actors, and the lion’s share went to Warren Palmer as Eric Booth.  Not only did you have so much of the scripted part of the play, including some extremely long and wordy speeches,  but also adlibbed your way around the audience pre-show, including some awful fishy puns, all this added greatly to our enjoyment and gave us an understanding of what might be to come.  Also, of course, you had to run the audience participation sessions with a quiz and paper hat making efforts – again adlibbing in character all the time -  not to mention dealing with the fish stories that members of the audience submitted.  You never slipped and your accent remained constant throughout – as far as I could tell anyway as a dedicated Southerner!  This was a mammoth part and you portrayed it to perfection.  Very well done.
 
Your sidekick in the shop, Lee, Lukas James, also had a certain amount of pre-show interaction with the audience before retiring behind the counter to polish glasses, fill vinegar bottles, etc.  With the audience within touching distance you judged all your moves well.  Your accent too was good.  I think I spotted a slight slip once or twice on the vowels but you gave a lovely portrayal of a willing, if a tad, hapless, assistant.  Your facial expressions and reactions when dealing with the kitchen fire and burning pan added so much to your character portrayal and were excellently done.
 
The two ladies, Ceri Nicolson as Eric’s old flame Christine, and Jody Cook as her granddaughter, Jasmine, developed a very good chemistry and interacted well with the two men.  Loved the hand jiving!
 
Ceri, you had the difficult job of audibly musing on the past whilst Eric was running the quiz – you projected well and added greatly to our understanding of the relationship between the two of you forty odd years ago.  I realise that the timing of this is most probably scripted but I felt that some of it was lost as the audience tended to chatter about the quiz.  You were, however, always totally in character, both as far as your accent was concerned and in your care for Jasmine, you dealt with the fact that the audience was almost on top of you at times very well.  You gave an excellent performance as always.
 
Jody too managed the accent well and the moments when you were totally embarrassed by the behaviour of your ‘Nan’ were especially well acted with some very revealing facial expressions.  I also loved your interaction with Lee.  At the end when the attention was on Eric and Christine, the two of you, flirting behind the counter as Lee instructed you on clearing up, were always totally in character.  Silent, mimed use of your mobile was good too.   
 
Pip, the setting of the two couples, both gradually reconciling past differences, was excellent as they almost mirrored each other.
 
With only four in the cast, on stage nearly all the time, acting and reacting silently when the attention was not directly on you showed how talented you all are and your quartet gave a lesson in how to remain totally in character throughout whilst never upstaging whoever is the protagonist at the time. 
 
Thank you again, and I look forward to your next production!
 
Judith Watsham
District 11 and 11A Rep NODA London