It is difficult to imagine a world without animals and the love of a pet. When I was sent by What’s the Show to review Chicken in a Biscuit, I had read the synopsis and the line, “Welcome to the hilarious, heartfelt world of your pet’s inner life”. I was instantly intrigued. The synopsis said that there would be animals such as dogs, cats and bunnies featured and – full disclosure – this reviewer has loved being a pet mamma of two out of three of these animals (not the cat, and also from the title, I have not had chickens either!)
Whether you’ve been a pet parent or not, you’ll be captivated by the stories in this uniquely original play from Fixed Foot Productions. The play combines sharp, witty comedy filled with clever one-liners with moments that are emotionally charged and, at times, confront deeply serious themes head-on. Through skillful acting and seamless transitions between characters, Mandy Bishop and Jamie Oxenbould reveal the raw realities of life as an animal companion and the profound impact pets have on their human owners, and they on us.
Chicken in a Biscuit begins as the audience are being seated. There is a brown dog, later on we discover his name is Truffles Bolton, napping on the lounge in the corner, legs twitching in blissful sleep. The mood is calm; peaceful. When he awakens, Truffles, played by Jamie Oxenbould introduces the audience into his olfactory world. Whereas humans see in visuals, this senior 13 year old labrador dog introduces his favourite smells and how they represents the triumphs and failures of life. He gestures toward his human, Gary, who is affectionately portrayed and projected on the wall. He is head down in the toilet. It was comical as I initially thought his head was in the toilet because he had too much to drink that night. Then Truffles said he was a plumber, so that joke was cleverly woven in.
What follows is a series of monologues, seamlessly performed by the two actors as they alternate between characters, each one delving into five distinct scents, each carrying its own unique story. These scenarios form the basis of a cleverly constructed and connected narrative and the way it is presented showcases pure creative brilliance!
Bishop slinks onto the stage wearing a velour blue jumpsuit and kitty ears. She was a royal Blue Burmese pedigree kitty, talking disdainfully about her new owner Lisa Wilson, who adopted her from Janelle Paws Animal Rescue. This sassy cat owned the stage and made it damn clear that no-one, not even Lisa Wilson, would dare “own her”. Kitty had the attitude of a queen as she told the story of her previous owner named Vernon, who she seemed to adore but sadly he passed away, and as a result she went into the animal rescue shelter. Bishop was mesmerising as the cat – everything about her was cat-like, from the way she moved to her mannerisms and expressions.(The one time she was not regal, was when she could not help but play and scramble with a bag, a relatable type of cat play which had the audience laughing) Her description of Lisa Wilson was that of the stereotypical ‘cat lady’ which was very funny!
Dr Graeme Nestbender (Oxenbould) was next, a dentist who, after his marriage fell apart, fell in love with the simplicity of the life of his pets, the many rabbits who lived at (overtook) his house. The story was a strong one, and was presented to the audience as though we were the board, and had the power to take away his practising license. As his explanation for how he came to be in this position formed, it became clear that the underlying message was not about crime. Dr Nestbender was torn between two species, being cocooned safely in a rabbit suit which felt right, and his loneliness as a human. Oxenbould’s emotional performance as the dentist was outstanding, his character far different from how we had previously seen him as Truffles.
Bishop followed, this time portraying a dog. Super loyal to her owner Pam, this dog named Maximus, Decimus Fonzerelli was fiesty! His unwavering love for Pam and the absolute dislike and distrust for Pam’s boyfriend Terry left him in a pickle. He was tied up with a bark collar and although he was tethered by the leash and banished by the awful Terry, this dog would do anything to protect his beloved Pam.
Oxenbould returned to the stage as the beloved owner of Paisley, a pug who had attained a cult following on his Instagram page because of his variety of gorgeous outfits. In this monologue, the owner was grieving, doing a live eulogy online (with the cutest pictures projected for us to see) and telling Paisley’s story, which turned out to be a warning of the ups and downs of stardom.
Before Truffles came back to close the play, one more character’s story was told – Janelle, played by Bishop. We hear Janelle interviewing Lisa Wilson at the time when she had applied to adopt Fonzerelli. Told from this point of view, with Janelle’s relentless and sharp questions fired like bullets into the phone, combined with the Burmese Blue’s description of her, I felt like both had completed the character of Lisa so clearly that she was indeed another character in the play.
The writers, Jamie Oxenbould and Mary Rachel Brown, skillfully incorporated the unseen characters from the monologues, making this two-person play feel like it had a much larger and lively cast. Congratulations to them both on their Australian premiere, and especially to Brown, who also directed this gem.
Chicken in a Biscuit offered a funny yet tender and heart-wrenching exploration of what it means to be truly known, regardless of species. It reflects on the stereotypes we hold about those we think we understand, and highlights the transformative power of love in shaping our lives. As we exit the Old Fitz Theatre, we are invited to contemplate the thought-provoking question posed by the wise old chocolate lab at the beginning, Truffles Bolton: “What does your life smell like?”
Season run: 3 October – 18 October 2025 at the Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling St, Woolloomooloo Sydney
Run Time: 80 minutes no interval
Tickets: www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/chicken-in-a-biscuit
To book tickets to Chicken In A Biscuit, please visit https://www.oldfitztheatre.com.au/chicken-in-a-biscuit.
Photographer: Becky Matthews
