The Mill at Sonning Archives - North West End UK

8Dec

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

White Christmas – The Mill at Sonning

Jonathan O’Boyle’s production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Mill at Sonning offers a delightful escape into festive cheer, perfectly defying the post-lunch slump. The story follows Bob and Phil, two old army buddies and successful performers, who join forces with the charming Haynes Sisters, Betty and Judy, to save a struggling Vermont inn owned by their former General. Together, they plan a spectacular Christmas show to boost the inn’s finances, enlisting their old army division for support. It’s a classic tale of friendship, love, and the magic of the holidays. Gary Lloyd’s choreography truly stands out, featuring a fabulous tap dancing sequence that leaves the audience wanting more and the performers a bit breathless—in the best way possible. Jason Denver’s luscious set d...

11Aug

By Klervi GavetNo Comments

London

Bedroom Farce – The Mill at Sonning

Nestled on a picturesque spot over a water mill, The Mill at Sonning offers a charming escape only a short train ride from London. This gorgeous venue, celebrated as "Most Welcoming Theatre" three years in row, offers a tasty lunch, delightful scenery and impeccable service from an attentive staff both in the restaurant and at the theatre. Now if one cannot recommend this dinner theatre enough - one of the very few in the country - its lively charm stood in stark contrast to the underwhelming performance of Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, under the direction of Robin Herford. Set across three different apartments over one chaotic night, the play explores the entangled lives of four couples, each grappling with their own neuroses and relational issues. While Ayckbourn’s intent may...

Three Men in a Boat – The Mill at Sonning

17Jun

By Zain RussellNo Comments

London

Three Men in a Boat – The Mill at Sonning

Three Men in a Boat was performed in a delightfully charming theatre nestled by the waters of the Thames, just outside London in Sonning. The theatre itself featured a beautiful mill inside the building, adding to the unique and picturesque atmosphere of the venue. Each theatre ticket included an exemplary two-course meal, with attentive staff who ensured everyone was well looked after. The meal for me was the highlight, offering delicious options that catered to various tastes. The dining experience set a warm and inviting tone for the afternoon, making the audience feel well cared for even before the performance began. The production was set just before the First World War, highlighted by a poignant final image. It followed a trio of friends: Jerome, played by George Watkins; his b...

17Feb

By Kira DanielsNo Comments

London

Deathtrap – The Mill at Sonning

What would you do for a great play? In Deathtrap by Ira Levin the answer turns out to be nothing good. With all the aesthetic drippings of a juicy whodunnit and a cast of characters each less winsome than the last, this play is powered by plot twists but never gathers quite enough steam to even fog up a window. Written in 1978 and set in the then not too distant future of 1979 Westport, Connecticut, Deathtrap does little to induce nostalgia in viewers even as it convincingly harkens back to the era of rotary phones, carbon copies, and illicit homosexuality. Fans of the play or film adaptation of Rope will find a dynamic worth exploring here that is ultimately left tantalizingly under investigated by the severely dated script and frustratingly conventional staging. Director Tam Willia...

3Jun

By Gonzalo SentanaNo Comments

London

Gypsy – The Mill at Sonning

Can one live vicariously? Can one be successful through one's child's success? How much can one change when pushed to the edge of exhaustion? Welcome to Gipsy, a classic that will make you shiver in your seat. This staging of the now classic Musical on the Mill at Sonning hits all the right spots. When going to the performance, the ticket includes a two-course dinner, about which this reviewer cannot knowledgeably comment, other than to say that it was almost as great as the main dish: the theatre part. This play written by Arthur Laurents, with music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is entire directed and choreographed for The Mill by Joseph Pitcher, with Francis Goodhand in charge of musical arrangement, direction and keyboards, Jason Denvir in the incredibly lively Se...