Set in 1950s Paris, Chin Chin tells the story of the staunchly British doctor’s wife, Pamela Pusey-Picq, and passionate Italian Cesareo Grimaldi, who are brought together when they realise that their spouses are having an affair.
The play sees two of Britain’s best loved actors, Felicity Kendal and Simon Callow, take to the stage, and they are a joy to watch.
Apart from being betrayed by their partners, the duo appear to have little in common: Cesaro initially wanting to leave his wife and the doctor to be happy while Pamela is determined to cling on to her marriage.
The play centres on the jilted couple, with just four other actors making up the cast.
Such a focus on the experiences of two lonely people could be emotionally draining for the audience but the fabulously funny script ensures this is not the case.
The potentially depressing storyline is punctuated by dry humour and physical comedy with plenty of of laugh-out-loud moments.
During one of the most comical scenes, Pamela arrives at a cheap hotel room to meet Cesareo, wearing a trenchcoat and sunglasses to avoid detection, while the scene ends with Cesareo later collapsing on the bed having worked himself up into a frenzy of excitement.
Callow’s energy flawlessly portrays his highly emotional Italian character and he delivers some hilarious one-liners in a believable accent that doesn’t feel stagey.
This liveliness is perfectly balanced by Kendal’s portrayal of archetypal English reserve.
It is an unlikely pairing but the couple come to rely on each other as they drunkenly descend from respectability to dysfunction.
As the friendship develops the audience grows to love the two characters, willing them to come out triumphant on the other side of their partner’s affair.
This bittersweet comedy is brilliantly written, directed and acted and, aside from a slightly cheesy and unconvincing walk into the sunset, it is a hugely enjoyable to watch.
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