The Mill Theatre in Sonning presents its latest production It Runs in the Family by Ray Cooney a comedy farce set in the Doctor’s common room. The Mill offers a two-course dinner and theatre experience. The restaurant has currently been refurbished and now offers table service instead of the self-service buffet that used to be offered. The quality of the food is still to the same delicious standard.

The Doctor’s common room is the centre of mayhem and chaos throughout the play. Dr David Mortimore (Steven Pinder) is going over his notes before he has to present a speech to win him the much sought-after knighthood he is trying to obtain.

Nurse Jane Tate (Natasha Gray) arrives in the common room in an attempt to confront Dr Mortimore about why she abruptly left the hospital 18 years ago, when she found out she was pregnant after their affair. She informed her son Leslie (Francis Redfern) on his 18th birthday about the truth about his father and he has stormed into the hospital to confront his Father.

Dr Bonney (James Bradshaw) remembers Nurse Tate and is thrilled to see her back. However, he struggles with lies as he works on the principle that he doesn’t have to remember them if he tells the truth. I challenge anyone to stick to the truth one hundred per cent as everything becomes distorted as Dr Mortimore tries to cover up his historical affair and son.

I found Ian Stuart Robertson in the role of the patient Bill one of the funniest characters and he understood far more of what was going on around him than he let on. How the character could have even considered that the Doctor’s common room was his new private room is beyond me. With everything else that’s going on, why not?

The Comedy farce twists and turns drawing hospital staff from different departments into the conversation with plenty of one-liners, confused information passed around and a very annoyed Sir Willoughby Drake (Eric Carte) the Chair of the Governors at the hospital desperately attempting to get Dr Mortimore into the room to make his speech.

Although the play was first published in 1990, thirty-five years ago. It appealed to a varied audience in age at yesterday’s performance and the laughter throughout the auditorium spoke for itself. The farce ties itself up knots and the misinformation keeps developing and I defy anyone not to laugh during the play.

For more information about It Runs in the Family and future productions at The Mill Theatre in Sonning please visit the link below.

Photo credit Carla Joy Evans.

Five Stars.

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Running from 13 February to 12 April 2025

CAST
James Bradshaw – Dr Hubert Bonney
Eric Carte – Sir Willoughby Drake
Oscar Cleaver – Dr Mike Connolly
Elizabeth Elvin – Matron
Rachel Fielding – Rosemary Mortimore
Natasha Gray – Jane Tate
Steven Pinder – Dr David Mortimore
Francis Redfern – Leslie
Iain Stuart Robertson – Bill
Titus Rowe – Police Sergeant

CREATIVES
Writer – Ray Cooney OBE
Director – Ron Aldridge
Set Designer – Alex Marker
Costume Designer – Natalie Titchener
Lighting Designer – Graham Weymouth