Film & Theatre, Reviews | Posted on September 15th, 2025 | return to news

REVIEW Plays ‘n’ Chips

Broadstone Players Theatre Company

Review by Luke Graham

This annual performance of one-act plays by the Broadstone Players was a delight in September.

For over 30 years, audiences to ‘Plays ‘n’ Chips’ have sat around tables for a fish and chip supper to enjoy alongside the evening of performances. It’s a popular community tradition.

This year’s show featured two comedies and a mystery by Agatha Christie.

The first comedy was ‘I Haven’t the Foggiest’ by local author Malcolm Miller. This comedy of errors saw a divorced couple forced to spend the night together at an airport hotel. The script was full of very witty lines well-delivered by the cast (my favourite: a guest asks where she can get a cappuccino, and the rude hotel clerk replies, “Italy!”)

The second was ‘The Rats’ by Agatha Christie. I wasn’t familiar with this play, about a woman invited by friends to party… or has she? This was tense, edge-or-your-seat stuff.

The final performance was ‘Last Tango in Little Grimley’, an excellent farce written by David Tristam, about an amateur dramatic society’s last gasp as staying relevant (and solvent). Full of hilarious observations about community groups and village life, it was brilliantly performed by the cast and drew several belly laughs from the room.

With 11 actors playing 12 parts across three plays, it’s impossible to mention everyone, but special mentions must go to: Patrick D’Ardenne, whose performance as the camp Alec in ‘The Rats’ and frustrated Gordon in ‘Last Tango’ produced plenty of laughter; Lucy Webster gave a fantastic, natural performance in ‘The Rats’; and Stuart Risdale was hilarious as the blunt set-builder Bernard in ‘Last Tango’.

Well done to the whole cast, crew and directors for this fun evening. The Broadstone Players’ next production will be Mike Leigh’s 1977 classic ‘Abilgail’s Party’, on 18–22 November.