REVIEW: CHOP-CHOP! @ BARONS COURT THEATRE

🎭 Chop-Chop!

📍 Barons Court Theatre, 28a Comeragh Road, London, W14 9HR

🗓 Saturday 23rd November 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FULL OF LIFE, ENERGY AND FUN

In CHOP-CHOP!, writer and actor Andrea Holland brilliantly juggles dual roles as two contrasting protagonists – English and Spanish. Through their clashes and reconciliations, the play humorously unpacks cultural stereotypes, inviting the audience to reflect on how we view and value different ways of life.

The story begins with Spanish Andrea peeling potatoes in an unapologetically animated and enthusiastic way. We quickly learn that this vivacious, all-singing, all-dancing, siesta-loving character thrives on spontaneity, food and fun – even if it means procrastinating on essential tasks like sending an important email. Enter English Andrea: a meticulous and pragmatic counterpart who emerges from another room to explain that she’s in the middle of doing her taxes. She appears to be the opposite of Spanish Andrea. Food, for her, is more functional than celebratory, and she prefers to live tidily with a rigid social calendar. 

For 70 minutes, we’re immersed in this shared living space, witnessing the pair’s contrasting approaches to daily life. English Andrea grows increasingly frustrated by her flatmate’s failure to send that long-overdue email, while Spanish Andrea spends her time searching for her mother’s tortilla recipe and entertaining her crowd of "friends" – a.k.a us, the audience, who were engaged and called upon throughout. The tension between this duo is peppered with funny debates, especially about food — where Spanish Andrea passionately defends the ritualistic joy of lingering over meals, sipping drinks and sharing desserts with friends.

Though primarily performed in English, the play features bursts of Spanish, adding a layer of authenticity and charm. As someone learning Spanish, I found this both delightful and helpful, though I can imagine it might momentarily confuse those unfamiliar with the language.

Andrea Holland’s performance is the heart of this play. Her seamless transitions between the two characters are admirable; she inhabits each persona so vividly that it’s easy to forget you’re watching just one actor. Her ability to make both characters relatable, flawed and endearing is a testament to her talent.

Tackling stereotypes is tricky territory, but Holland’s approach was, in my opinion, both satirical and playful, making it clear that the exaggerations are intentional and in good humour. The audience is drawn into the laughter but also invited to reflect as the story starts to deconstruct the very stereotypes it explores. By the end, both characters learn from one another, finding value in their differences and adopting aspects of each other’s perspectives. We never learn what is so important about this email, which was slightly frustrating at first. But I soon realised that’s the point. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter, and there are much more important things in life, as English Andrea comes to realise.

CHOP-CHOP! is a clever, entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of cultural identity and connection. Holland’s performance and the play’s sharp wit make it a great watch for anyone ready to laugh, reflect and perhaps see themselves in these delightfully exaggerated archetypes.

Estelle Luck

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one person.

My ticket for this performance of Chop-Chop! was gifted by the show's Assistant Producer who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given.

RUN TIME (approx):

1 hour 10 minutes, with no interval