Chips With Everything
By Arnold WeskerDirected by John Dexter
Royal Court Theatre, London - opened 27th April 1962 (51 performances)
Vaudeville Theatre, London - opened 12th June 1962
Clarence Derwent Award - Won - Best male in a supporting role: Frank Finlay as Corporal Hill
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Frank Finlay ........ Corporal Hill
George Innes ........ 239 Cannibal, Archie
Colin Cambell ........ 252 Wingate
John Kelland ........ 276 Thompson
Laurie Asprey ........ 247 Seaford
Alexander Balfour ........ 284 McLure
Colin Farrell ........ 272 Richardson
Hugh Futcher ........ 277 Cohen
John Bull ........ 266 Smith
Ronald Lacey ........ 279 Washington
Martin Boddey ........ Wing Commander
Robert Bruce ........ Squadren Leader
Corin Redgrave ........ Pilot Officer
Michael Goldie ........P.T. Instructor Flt. Sgt.
Peter Kelly ........ Recruit
Bruce Heighley ........ Night Guard
Roger Heathcott ........ 1st Corporal
Michael Blackham ........ 2nd Corporal
Michael Craze ........ 1st Airman
Alan Stevens ........ 2nd Airman
Early 1950s. A group of Air Force conscripts begin eight weeks of 'square-bashing' - basic military drill. Two of the conscripts develop a friendship, Pip Thompson - a young aristocrat, Chas Wingate - a working class boy.
The military hierarchy want Pip to become an officer. He rebelliously refuses. The officers patiently tolerate his rebellion thus defusing it and breaking his spirit. When Smiler, one of the recruits, is badly treated by NCOs, the recruits rebel. Pip, who has just accepted to become an officer, urges the hierarchy to tolerate their rebelliousness as they had tolerated his and thus, similarly, defuse their anger.
The young recruits who began as a shambles end as an efficient, closely linked and acquiescent squad.
Corporal Hill ... This last is a character beautifully observed and beautifully played by Frank Finlay. By birth a prole, he has gone over to the enemy, whose orders he carries out to the letter with a wry, humourless gusto. Professionally bellicose on the parade-ground, he relapses when off duty into immediate sympathy with the men he has just being bullying; and though he is unaware of the paradox, Mr Wesker sees to it that we are not.
Kenneth Tynan
The Observer May 6th 1962
