"As the actors volley back and forth with balls and words, they never miss a beat in their non-stop dialogue or the real-time game they play. They distinctly capture the two disparate personalities with fluid naturalism, while developing their characters...'ChipandGus' is at once intelligent, funny, exasperating, and poignant, and the FringeNYC award and encore presentation of this self-described 'comedy with balls' are well deserved."
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“Writer-director-performers Christopher Patrick Mullen and John Ahlin are seasoned actors who know how to deftly reveal character, all while keeping their ball in play...Together, they quaff beer, swing their paddles, crack jokes and resolve long-held resentments with humor, wit and pathos...Bright, funny and cathartic: an emotionally resonant buddy comedy for thinking audiences. As the banter accelerates, so does the game.”
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"Thanks to the perfectly matched Christopher Patrick Mullen (Chip) and John Ahlin (Gus), 'ChipandGus' gracefully withstands the tension with thoughtful character development and a barrage of witty dialogue that flows as easily as Ahlin and Mullen's impressive volleys…For a play so light on plot, the pace of this downhill tumble is a little too creeping. But along the way, Mullen and Ahlin hit a few genuinely poignant notes on love and friendship."
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"There's propulsion under their chatter. Their verbal badinage is a surface sport, a kind of screen that keeps troubling little things from falling through...Although the talk ranges all over the place, it's a tight play with a ping-pong kind of metronome behind it. Ahlin and Mullen, who bring their star quality to the acting, collaborated on the writing of 'ChipandGus.' You don't have to be a member of the intelligentsia to enjoy this lively play, but it wouldn't hurt!"
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"The tiny nuances of thought that Mullen and Ahlin share are simultaneously entertaining and thought-provoking. Perhaps their ease of executing this comedy is a result of having written and directed the show themselves. Whereas the lack of an outside perspective can often be detrimental, it's quite the opposite here. This insightful comedy incorporates witty banter with philosophical humor. The ridiculous yet clever ideas sewn into the dialogue are wonderful."
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"A remarkable two-hander one act play…It is written by John Ahlin (Gus) and Christopher Patrick Mullen (Chip), who also credit themselves with the adroit direction. They are a perfect team, amiable opponents that manage to play with rather than against each other. Their chemistry is not an experiment but an explosion that can only be accomplished when combining two incredibly skilled actors together in a clever and precarious script…They are a pleasure to watch and intriguing to hear."
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"Ahlin and Mullen are friends in life and have specifically developed this piece together...The play began through their love of the game and grew into a profound and heart-wrenching play. The work is evident and the two gel together on stage with an ease that can only come from years of camaraderie and mutual respect. 'ChipandGus' is funny, real, sad, and surprising...If you’re passionate about ping pong or simply an evening of human connection, look no further."
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