Review: Don't Rock The Boat (The Mill at Sonning)

Review by Daz Gale

⭐️⭐️⭐️

When it comes to beautiful theatres outside of London, they don’t come much more picturesque than the Mill at Sonning, just a stone’s throw from Reading station (now on the Elizabeth Line, so available to do on the underground). Always providing an exciting mix of shows throughout the year, from plays to musicals, their latest offering is a revival of Robin Hawdon’s comedy Don’t Rock The Boat. In what was unbelievably only my first visit to one of my favourite theatres this year, would this play have me rocking, or would it be more of a sinking ship?

Don’t Rock The Boat takes place on a quiet stretch of the Thames during the 1990s as the Bullhead family, led by patriarch Arthur, welcome the Coombes as guests for a relaxing weekend together on their converted barge. However, Arthur has an ulterior motive for the get-together as he attempts to secure the business deal of his dreams. As personalities clash, secrets are revealed, partners are betrayed, and lives are transformed in a weekend none of them will ever forget.

Though billed as a comedy, Robin Hawdon’s writing allows for a variety of tones to present themselves in Don’t Rock The Boat. There are elements of farce and some laugh-out-loud moments, but this is never at the expense of the story, which proves full of twists and turns as members of the two families clash. Interestingly, though it is set in the 1990s, it feels a lot more dated than that with the way characters present themselves. Though there is the notion of female empowerment as several characters fight back against their male oppressors, other elements feel like they belong decades earlier, with an overwhelming sense of misogyny playing out. Not every element in the writing works as well, with Arthur’s wife Mary existing solely as a punching bag and never getting that satisfying moment to stand up for herself as the other women in the play manage to do.

Sally Hughes’ direction makes full use of the cosy yet versatile space at The Mill at Sonning, with a stunning set design from Jackie Hutson beautifully realising “the Bunty” (the name of the Bullhead family’s barge) with great details both in and outside the boat including a great use of water. The use of different rooms on the boat being visible at the same time allows for some heightened comedy caused by contrasts and conflict, with a great use of physical comedy and running gags in several instances.

Though the two men in the play are the most explored characters and have the biggest roles, they find themselves eclipsed by the women in the play. Harry Gostelow goes on a great journey as John Coombes, culminating in a very different character by the play’s climax from the one we initially met, while Steven Pinder gives a solid performance as lead character Arthur Bullhead, though at this particular performance he did fumble over his lines quite frequently, detracting from their impact.

Melanie Gutteridge gives an intriguing turn as Arthur’s wife, Mary, though suffers from being underwritten and never quite managing her own empowering moment. However, this doesn’t stop her from making the most of the character and holding her own even when she is forced to stay silent - something that happens all too often in Don’t Rock The Boat. Hannah Brown and Francesca Barrett form a fantastic double act as daughters Wendy and Shirley, bringing a refreshing sense to the chaos their parents are creating. The standout performance, for me, belongs to Rachel Fielding as Carol Coombes in a completely scene-stealing turn. Though she appears to be nothing more than a supporting character initially, she more than makes up for this with a confident turn that sees her prove to be the dominating character eventually - something I longed for from Arthur’s wife, too.

What makes The Mill at Sonning so special is that any trip there is more than just a show; it is an experience. As well as the beautiful setting, each ticket comes with a two-course meal of the highest quality that sets the standard high before the play has even started. This means that even if the play you are viewing doesn’t prove to be quite your cup of tea, the meal and overall experience will still ensure you have a fantastic time there.

Don’t Rock The Boat is an enjoyable enough play, with a great use of direction and some brilliant performances from its talented cast. Slightly uneven writing that hasn’t aged as well as other plays from the time, and an under-utilised cast members prevent it from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it is still a boat-load of fun, even if I wasn’t completely rocked by it.

Don’t Rock The Boat plays at The Mill at Sonning until 6th September. Tickets from https://millatsonning.com/Events/dont-rock-the-boat/

Photos by Pamela Raith