• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides

Chicken Shop- Park Theatre

September 25, 2014 by Verity Healey Leave a Comment

Review of: Chicken Shop
Price:
£19.50/£16/15

Reviewed by: Verity Healey
Rating:
3
On September 25, 2014
Last modified:September 25, 2014

Summary:

Unrepentantly cruel and yet with redemptive youth on its side

More Details

It’s strange and perhaps also rather wonderful, how at 16, one’s perceptions of the world and one’s concerns can change so radically and be expressed so differently that one hardly recognizes the emerging adult forming out of the rather imperfect chrysalis that forms childhood. This seems to be the case with Chicken Shop by Anna Jordan, a coming of age story laden with many cruelties.

Angela Bull & Jesse Rutherford

Angela Bull & Jesse Rutherford

This change, or opening of the eyes, is something that the play, director Jemma Gross and the playwright successfully achieve- Hendrix [Jesse Rutherford], living with his mother Hilary [Angela Bull] and her new Australian girl friend Katie [Millie Reeves] complains about the food he has to eat as a way of protesting against the new lover, her and Hilary’s parenting skills and the bullying he suffers at school [which is also their fault]- in a way that is fitting of a petulant school boy.  At the play’s end, his concerns, which have grown to include the safety of prostitute Luminita [LucyRosyln] who is entrapped by her vicious pimp Leko [John Last], are given a more adult voice through a desire help her- and when that is finally thwarted, more desperate form through a show of violence, where we see shadows of the child Hendrix unable to comprehend the world he has now entered as an adult.

The 2 hour play tackles many themes as Hendrix stumbles into a brothel above a chicken shop in order to escape his humdrum life- young masculinity in a world full of women [the only men, apart from Hendrix, are very bad- even Hilary’s ex lover, Meg, a biker, becomes a man for Hendrix in an effort to counterbalance this] parental issues and same sex parenting and sexual exploitation. But it’s also about betrayal- and Hendrix, who seems to think that everyone is betraying him, suddenly finds himself also an accidental betrayer- it’s as though this is what really makes him adult. ‘You let me down’ he screams at his mum, when what he really means is that he let Luminita down by failing to save her from the evil clutches of Leko. Although we go into most situations with the best of intentions, sometimes life just doesn’t work that way and we find ourselves compromised unpredictably by the actions and circumstances of others- and at those times we can never tell how we may react- something that is a big theme in the play, from Luminita making the mistake of her life by trusting the man who betrayed her and so losing all her vitality and fight [she is ‘empty’ Leko tells her] to Hendrix who, without thinking and as a reaction to Luminita’s forced making love to him, turns his back and runs away from her, with life changing consequences.

There are some brilliant performances all round from the cast, especially when one feels that sometimes the writing mechanics of the piece are not always there- the lead up to Hendrix’s sudden visit to the brothel is not as justified in the playwriting as much as it could be and therefore seems a bit sudden and out of character for a boy of Hendrix’s sensitivity. However there are some stand out scenes between Lucy Rosalyn and Jesse Rutherford, who, in just about every scene in the play, accurately captures the painful and awakening journey Hendrix must make from being boy to man. Will Hendrix be able to protect his good heart and natural sense of empathy in the play’s last few scenes or have his experiences embittered him forever and hardened his heart? That question remains unanswered.

Unrepentantly  cruel and yet with redemptive youth on its side, Chicken Shop continues until 28th Sept book here for tickets

cast

Angela Bull | Hillary

Jesse Rutherford | Hendrix

John Last | Leko

Lucy Roslyn | Luminita

Millie Reeves | Katie

Creatives

Director Jemma Gross

Designer Florence Hazard

Lighting Designer Sherry Coenen

Assistant Director Charlotte Marigot

Producer Epsilon Productions

Production Associate Marnie Nash

Author: Verity HealeyI write about theatre, I write short stories/ poetry www.verityhealey.blogspot.com, I also sometimes make films.

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Anna Jordan, Chicken Shop, Jemma Gross, Park Theatre

Join the discussion Cancel reply

INTERVIEW / Daniel Hoffmann-Gill on The Great Almighty Gill

We spoke to Daniel Hoffmann-Gill about his autobiographical performance of The Great Almighty Gill that’s heading to the Edinburgh Fringe [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Kati Raatikainen on Kvartetto

We spoke to choreographer Kati Raatikainen about her upcoming performance of Kvartetto at the Edinburgh Fringe as part of the [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Harry Butler on Changing the Sheets

We spoke to writer and performer Harry Butler about his upcoming performance of Changing the Sheets, presented by The Playground [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Jamaal Burkmar on DONUTS

We spoke to choreographer Jaamal Burkmar about Extended Play’s upcoming performance of DONUTS at the Edinburgh Fringe, presented by The [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Heather Milsted tells us about her show Period Dramas

We spoke to actor and writer Heather Milsted about her upcoming show, Period Dramas, that’s heading to the Edinburgh Fringe [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: LAMDA Audition (First Round)
  • The Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre
  • Joe Strickland on why they will be keeping things digital
  • A Streetcar Named Desire- A cry of pain- Young Vic
  • Does Small to Mid Scale Theatre Touring Actually Work?
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Sarah Bodalbhai on Escape from Planet Trash
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Verity Healey
    Author

  • September 25th, 2014
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • FacebookTweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2022 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!