Cooking Up Chaos
Reviewed by Kim Kaitell
Going into The Kitchen Witches, at Port Stanley Festival Theatre, I deliberately avoided reading anything about it beforehand. With a title like that, I imagined something whimsical and maybe even a bit mystical – think a stage version of the movie Practical Magic, with bubbling cauldrons and a few well-placed spells. So, when I walked into the theatre and witnessed a bright, compact fully equipped kitchen that looked more like a TV studio than a witch’s lair, I was a little surprised. My initial expectations were quickly dashed – this was a cooking show, not a coven. So much for assumptions!
The audience is immediately placed in the middle of a live taping of a local cable-access cooking program hosted by Dolly Biddle, a fiery, apron-clad chef played with gusto by Christina Gordon. Dolly’s son Stephen (David Rowan) is ostensibly the producer, but his real job seems to be keeping his mother from going completely off-script. This is meant to be Dolly’s farewell episode, but it takes a sharp turn when her long-time nemesis, fellow cooking host Isobel Lomax (Monique Lund), crashes the set. The two women share a long and tangled history, and their rapid-fire insults and perfectly aimed barbs just happen to be captured on live TV and become an overnight sensation. With prompting from the station, a new series is born, staring the arch-rivals and aptly named The Kitchen Witches.
Director Liz Gilroy keeps the action moving at a brisk pace, and the staging makes clever use of the “show within a show” format. Set designer Emma Burnett nails the look of a modest TV studio – complete with a cluttered kitchen, the bright slightly harsh light you’d expect from daytime television and an “Applause” sign which encourages audience participation. The live camera work handled by Bobbi (E Webb), adds to the authenticity. One of my favorite scenes in the show was bringing a volunteer onstage to taste-test the rivals’ creations. This added to the evenings playful, immersive quality.
Despite these strong production elements, the show didn’t fully land for me. Much of the humour felt predictable, relying heavily on physical comedy and recycled jabs. The performances, while energetic, sometimes tipped into overacting, making certain exchanges feel forced rather than spontaneous. There were a couple of plot twists that hinted at more complex storytelling but these moments were left underdeveloped, which felt like missed opportunities to deepen the characters and give the comedy more bite.
However, it’s easy to see why The Kitchen Witches, winner of the 2005 Samuel French Best Canadian Play Award, has been a staple for community and regional theatres – it’s light, self-contained, and offers easy opportunities for audience interaction. Which is rare treat in the theatre world. For some, its zany energy and over-the-top characters are part of the fun. But for me, the lack of surprises in the script meant that the humour never quite built to a satisfying peak.
That said, if you enjoy lighthearted farce, kitchen-set chaos, and being pulled directly into action, you may well find The Kitchen Witches a pleasant night out. It’s not the magical romp I was expecting from the title, but it serves up enough sass, splash, and slapstick to keep many theatre-goers entertained – just don’t expect it to bring any new ingredients to the table.
The Kitchen Witches continues at Port Stanley Festival Theatre until August 23rd. Tickets are available by calling (519) 782-4353 or visit: www.psft.ca
Photo: Monique Lund and Christina Gordon play Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle in The Kitchen Witches, at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre. Photo by Daniel Platt.
The Kitchen Witches
Written by Caroline Smith
Directed by Liz Gilroy
Set Design by Emma Burnett
Costume Design by Alex Amini
Video Design by Joe Recchia
Stage Managed by Jory McLean
Performed by Christina Gordon, David Rowan, Monique Lund, E Webb
August 6 to 23, 2025
Port Stanley Festival Theatre, Port Stanley
Reviewed by Kim Kaitell