From the programmes handed out on the backs of Union Jack flags to the delicious cakes served before the show started, it's clear this is a polished performance.
Less of a show and more of an experience, The Big Bite-Size Vintage Tea Party features three short plays and a historical piece about the residents of Tarner, a suburb of Brighton which was damaged badly in the Second World War. Spoken by the actors as they have the real memories of Tarner residents played through earpieces, it's a touching meander through times long forgotten.
Compered by three ladies in floral 40s-style dresses with angelic voices, this 90-minute performance is brilliantly executed. By the final play, the audience have been transported to another era, and exiting The Warren into the modern age seems regrettable. Vintage, the first performance, is the perfect opener, flitting between the current decade and the 1940s.
Farewell to Arms is spectacularly performed by Stephanie Prince, and is at once clever, poignant and heart-warming. The subject matter is sad but the comedic choice of words used and the resilient and likeable character make it bittersweet.
The final short play, Perfidia is a sweet and touching tale, though less believable than the others. Although all three actors performed wonderfully, it's the script-writing talents of Lucy Kaufman that make it so memorable and human. The language, grammar and mannerisms are well-researched, each piece is perfectly rehearsed and choreographed. The Big Bite-Size Vintage Tea Party is a smooth, professional show which will continue to be a Fringe favourite.
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