CHIP ON HER SHOULDER
Written & Directed by Jen McAuliffe
Produced by Off With Their Heads Productions
Presented by the New York City Fringe Festival
April 9,10 &17
Salt & vinegar, sour cream & onion, and mesquite BBQ, oh, my! Potato chips of all varieties link writer/director Jen McAuliffe’s Chip on Her Shoulder story from start to finish.
Actor Victoria Nieves beautifully takes on the role of McAuliffe during a particularly hard period in her life where chips were more than just a comfort food, but her closest relationship.
The struggles of making it in the business are real, and no amount of Doritos, Bugles, or Pringles can make it any easier. Nieves overcame the sometimes long and clunky blackout transitions, bringing the frustration, hopelessness, and oversalted nature of Broadway’s downside to life.
While the journey is fast-paced – filled with laughs and tears – Nieves felt rushed at moments, speaking a little too quickly and missing moments to take breaths and live in the truth of the moment. Also, for a show literally riddled with bags of chips, it was odd to see a lack of actually eating any. We were yearning for that moment where her mouth would be full, and she’s talking to us through the chip. Or, allow the bags of chips to overtake the space, and then, with their clearing away, the piece would have the cathartic ending the writer was looking for.
A fun and energetic show. If you’re looking for a good balance of comedy and good storytelling, you’ll find it AND your favorite style of chip here.
Click HERE for tickets.
Review by Nick Radu-Blackburn.
Published by Theatre Beyond Broadway on April 8, 2026. All rights reserved.
