Presented by: Tea Tree Players
Reviewed: 1 October, 2025
One of the hardest things to cook or bake is soufflé. It has to be treated with respect, precision, perfect timing and of course, the ingredients have to be correct. If any one or all of these are incorrect then the soufflé is a disaster and will flop. If everything works well and together then the soufflé rises and is a success. Tea Tree Players latest production Kitchen Witches indeed rises to unimaginable heights and is indeed a winner!
The script written by Caroline Smith about two cooks who haven’t spoken for over thirty years but end up hosting a Community TV cooking show together is absolutely hilarious both verbally and sometimes physically, with the odd nicely emotional bit thrown in for good measure.
Director Lachie Blackwell has picked up this wonderous script and ran with it – all the ingredients of a soufflé combine in his vision, direction and bringing together a cast of four that just shine and, yes, rise to the occasion. This reviewer could not find fault with this production. Everything works from Blackwell’s direction and appropriately bare and tacky Community TV set, through to Beth Venning and Sandra Surguy’s props, great costuming from Merici Thompson & The Monday Club and Barry Hill, Damon Hill’s scenic art (check out the splash back) and Mike Phillips lighting design that clearly delineates at any given moment whether we are in a tv studio when it’s ‘off air’ or ‘on air’ – and, of course, the very talented cast of four.
Leading this cast are the two Kitchen Witches themselves, Michelle Hrvatin as Dolly Biddle (aka Babcha) and Jo-Anne Davis as Isobel Lomax. Hrvatin exudes confidence and hilarity from the start. Dolly is big, bold and brash and Hrvatin plays her perfectly for every laugh possible. She bounces off Davis’s character wonderfully and Davis reciprocates beautifully. On opening night Davis seemed a little nervous at first, but once she got into her stride of slinging it with Hrvatin, it was great to watch. Her final line in Act One is a doozy and she threw it out to the audience fantastically.
There’s an adage in the entertainment world “Never work with children and animals”. It should also be “and food”. This reviewer knows first hand how difficult it is to prepare a meal on stage whilst speaking and trying to remember your lines. These two ladies are experts in doing just that. Well done!!
Playing Dolly’s very put upon producer, director and beleaguered son, Stephen, Matt Bryker-Oman is perfection and gives a master class on how to be neurotic while trying to keep the kitchen cooking whilst all around him is going to pot (or, in this case, cauldron). It’s hard to believe that this young man did only one piece of acting 17 years ago – he is a natural. His scene in Act Two with Davis is emotional and very moving and thanks to the two of them and Blackwell’s deft directorial touch, is worth the price of admission alone.
Special mention must be made of Torin Hill playing Rob, The Camera Guy. He has the unenviable task of not saying a word. But he expresses his intentions extremely clearly.
This is one play not to be missed, so if you are lucky to secure tickets, switch off “The Meat Master” on MKR, grab your tomatoes and capsicums and get prepared to get ready, steady and cook. I promise you will be basted with laughter.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Photo credit: supplied
Venue: Tea Tree Players Theatre
Season: Until 11 October 2025
Duration: 2hr including a 20 min interval
Tickets: $19 – $22
Bookings: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1317033?&track=website or phone 8289 5266
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