The Mill at Sonning – until 4 April 2026
Reviewed Marcia Spiers
4****
A great evening was had at the Mill in Sonning. Directed by Ron Aldridge and written by Michael Cooney this farce concerns the hot topic of Benefit Fraud. From the off, the fraudster sets the scene and layers of deceit are built upon one by one. Dead bodies, different identities, comic timing and great physical comedy led to bouts of laughter all through the performance enabling the replacement of the current UK dreary with the cheery!
Actors consisted of Mill regulars and less frequent performers. The modest home set with its many doors allowed for all the comings and goings between rooms, including a staircase which gave the illusion of a two-story dwelling.
Eric Swan (Stephen Pinder) has lost his job but hides this fact from his wife Linda (Natasha Gray). He seizes on an opportunity to get money when his lodger passes away by receiving the deceased’s benefit payments and selling on delivered NHS supplies with his partner in crime Uncle George (Michael Shaw). As Eric’s conscience finally surfaces, he attempts to stop the payments but as is typical, getting through the right person eludes him.
This prompts a visit from the Department of Social Security Inspector Mr. Jenkins (Harry Gostelow). Jenkins, keen to bring matters to a conclusion and afraid of his superior, the formidable Ms. Cowper (Felicity Duncan) ends up spending the entire day at the Swan household trying to establish the truth and obtain a signature on a document. Eric’s new lodger Norman Bassett (James Bradshaw) gets reluctantly pulled into the cover up even though he is due to marry Miss Dixon (Melanie Gutteridge) that Saturday. As the day progresses this becomes less likely and things become more bizarre.
The body upstairs and on the sofa are not necessarily dead but require an undertaker Mr. Forbright (Titus Rowe) and a support counsellor Sally Chessington (Rachel Fielding), both never quite understanding what is really going on. In the meantime, Eric’s wife has become suspicious of her husband’s recent behavior and a discovery in the cupboard under the stairs leads to a visit from therapist Dr. Chapman (Oscar Cleaver) who tries unsuccessfully to help
Linda come to terms with the revelations. Then with the arrival of Ms. Cowper, Eric confesses his crimes leading to a final twist in the tale.
As always with a farce, there is so much going on all at once – the delivery of dialogue and the amazing physical comedy which requires brilliant timing together with fast and furious in and out of rooms! High praise to all the actors who worked hard to portray their characters with gusto. A good play to brighten up the winter grey skies.