The Mill at Sonning is one of the most beautiful Theatres in the Berkshire area that offers a delicious lunch or dinner Theatre package. They have an established regular audience but if you haven’t already been there then I recommend trying it as the whole visit is a very nice experience.

Don’t Rock The Boat isn’t a play that will test you or leave any unanswered questions. The outcome is pretty obvious from the start. However, None of that mattered to me. The characters are rounded and believable. The script is slightly dated but there’s nothing wrong with a touch of comedy nostalgia at times.

Jackie Hutson has created an incredible staging. The main body of the set is the narrow boat The Bunty where the Bullhead family spend their leisure time on the boat moored near a small village. The boat is surrounded by (fake) grass and a small amount of water to give a realistic touch to the location.

Being by the river you step out of the auditorium and have a glimpse at people who are living the boating life (sort of) that’s being staged inside.

Steven Pinder takes on the role of Arthur Bullhead whose attitude to everyone around him is appalling. Desperate to get the council’s permission for a new development he invites the Coombes family to join them to attempt to “bribe”  the influential solicitor John Coombes (Harry Gostelow) to help with his planning application.

Bullhead uses the excuse that the two families’ teenage daughters who attend the same school can spend some time together. It turns out they are acquaintances and barely know each other.

As a comedy farce things don’t quite go to plan as you’d expect. Especially with his domineering hold over that he thinks he has over his long-suffering wife (Melanie Gutteridge) and 17-year-old daughter (Francesca Barrett). How they haven’t pushed him overboard by now is beyond me.

Don’t Rock The Boat offers humour, light entertainment and a relaxing trip to the theatre.  It is worth seeing for the stage design alone.

I can highly recommend the salmon from the menu too. It was cooked perfectly and then followed by the cheese and biscuits.

For more information about Don’t Rock The Boat and future productions at The Mill in Sonning please use the link below.

Three and a half Stars.

Photo credit Pamela Raith.

https://millatsonning.com/

Cast List

Francesca Barrett – Shirley Bullhead
Hannah Brown – Wendy Coombes
Rachel Fielding – Carol Coombes
Harry Gostelow – John Coombes
Melanie Gutteridge – Mary Bullhead
Steven Pinder – Arthur Bullhead

Creatives

Director – Sally Hughes
Set Designer – Jackie Hutson
Costume Designer – Natalie Titchener
Lighting Designer – Graham Weymouth
Sound Designer – Henry Horn
Casting Director – Kate Plantin CDG