Written by & Starring: Phil Ormsby & Alex Ellis
Directed by: Simon Coleman
Venue: The Meteor
On: 28 February & 1 March 2020
Chick’N A Box is Flaxworks Theatre Company Auckland’s fourth show to be staged at Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival. Previous works included Miss Jean Batten and Conversations With Dead Relatives.
Phil Ormsby plays Piggly Chips, a loveable swine who in real life is a disillusioned creative that has starred alongside 54 other Phoebe Chickens over several decades. Alex Ellis, as Phoebe Chicken number 55, begins as an enthusiastic performer unable to understand Piggly’s frustration at their prescribed format and endless schedule of mall appearances. Cue chaos that inevitability spreads from backstage to onstage.
Ormsby and Ellis weren’t mic’d, but once they found their sweet spot with voice projection in the Meteor’s black box, the audience settled in for an entertaining look behind the scenes at children’s theatre. Part pantomime, part song and dance, and with some slapstick thrown in for good measure, Chick’N A Box was light-hearted entertainment that had the audience chuckling throughout.
Flaxworks once again had a beautiful and eye-catching set. They have an eye for simple but effective design that could be viewed as a work of art in itself.
The script was tight and clever, particularly with the ‘stage right’ and ‘stage left’ dialogue. The ending was unexpectedly perfect. Simon Coleman’s direction was innovative and inspired, especially from the backstage point of view.
Ormsby and Ellis seemed to be having as much fun as the audience, and their performances were polished. Chick’N A Box was perfect Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival material, and although different from Flaxwork’s previous theatrical offerings, ably showcased the combined and magnificent talents of Ormsby and Ellis.
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