For a theatre like The Mill at Sonning, Three Men in a Boat could not be more perfect with references to familiar places along the Thames including Wargrave, Hambleden, Pangbourne and Sonning itself.
Indeed, playwright Jerome K Jerome described Sonning as being ‘the most fairy-like little nook on the whole river, more like a stage village than one built of bricks and mortar’.
It’s the sort of show which keeps a smile on your face throughout and occasionally makes you laugh out loud.
The three actors James Bradshaw (George), Sean Rigby (Harris) and George Watkins (Jerome K Jerome) on stage throughout both narrating and taking on other personas had my full admiration for nailing the script and the characters.
Adapted by Clive Francis, Jerome K. Jerome’s Victorian satire originally published in 1889, is a master of slapstick humour, innuendo, and double entendre.
The larger-than-life characters take a journey down the Thames from Kingston to Oxford with several stops and encounters with people en route. Inspired by a fear that they are suffering from every documented medical illness, the trip provides an opportunity to recover and reconnect.
The trio’s interaction with the audience was both unexpected and amusing, as was the reference to their canine companion, Montmorency which the audience has to imagine encouraged by some amusing ‘woofs’ from each other the actors.
And they also demonstrated an ability to harmonise as they came together in song.
As the friends return to London life, what the audience has experienced is three friends spending quality time together, a lesson that could be learnt in today’s busy, fast paced life.
As ever with The Mill productions, the set was innovatively created by Sean Cavanagh, starting initially in a London drawing room which effortlessly transforms into the River Thames, complete with moving boat.
And for me, the finale proved surprisingly poignant as their images were projected on the screen behind them in uniform, watching the play on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The production runs at The Mill at Sonning until July 13th. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.millatsonning.com
JH