Reviewed by Amelia
Tickets were gifted in return for an honest review
When cunning Arthur Bullhead gets an idea into his head, there’s no stopping him from letting everyone know what he thinks. As he boards his family boat to try and conjure up at business deal with the town’s councillor, he is perhaps not prepared for all the shenanigans that will take place. Throw in his introverted wife Mary, who mostly looks like she’d rather be anywhere else, and his rebellious daughter Shirley, running riot around the group, and you’ll end up in some choppy waters!
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| Don't Rock the Boat. Photo by Pamela Raith Photography |
Steven Pinder (Arthur) is our protagonist here and he presents the character as rather unlikable. His hot temper and stubbornness are the cause of most of the rifts among the group and he is like a 2-year-old when he does not get his way. It is interesting to watch him muddle through the ever-growing situations, but there’s little to root for here, except hoping he falls overboard! Pinder plays the role well and convincingly, but I do wish he faced a little more comeuppance for the things he said and did. Melanie Gutteridge (Mary) and Francesca Barrett (Shirley) bounce off him well and they portray their dynamic with conviction.
The Coombes family, made up of John, his wife Carol and teenage daughter Wendy, accept the weekend break seemingly because they don’t have many other friends that would invite them out. When they first arrive, they’re pompous and can be judgmental, but this is something that does shift over the course of the performance. Hannah Brown (Wendy), Rachel Fielding (Carol) and Harry Gostelow (John) gel together as a family and have good chemistry with each other. The relationships are believable, especially between Wendy and Carol. It’s interesting to see how the dynamic develops over the course of the show, and even the most ‘perfect’ of families, often have more cracks than you think.
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| Photo by Pamela Raith Photography |
It seems by the end that most of the characters have learned something along the way that allows them to see the world a bit differently, but this does come at the cost of trying to mask character’s flaws by suggesting they’ve suddenly had a change of heart. It could have been more satisfying to see certain characters (Arthur and Carol) get what they deserve for the things they did, but it does take place over the weekend and therefore, we can use our own imaginations to think about what may happen in the fallout.
The experience of The Mill at Sonning was truly one to remember. As it was my first visit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I think this is a theatre everyone must try and go to. The meal beforehand was excellent, and it encourages you to meet new people and discuss theatre which is one of my favourite things to do! There’s a terrace overlooking the river where you can have a nice drink, and even a water mill that you can see from the bar, generating the electricity. It was explained to me that all the set, props and costumes are made in-house which is so impressive. This show had a fully functioning kitchen area, and the boat itself was incredibly realistic. I will be revisiting this venue for sure. Don’t Rock the Boat plays at The Mill at Sonning until the 6th of September.
Tickets are available from https://millatsonning.com/Events/dont-rock-the-boat/
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| Photo by Pamela Raith Photography |
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