Reading Rep has developed a reputation for producing bold, challenging theatre and has continued this in a co-production with The Watermill Theatre based on Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat.
It is given a refreshing comic adaption by Camille Ucan, where the men are replaced by three intergenerational women: a grandmother, mother and daughter. They are each celebrating their impending weddings by going on a hen night weekend together in a boat travelling along the Thames from Kingston to Henley.
Daughter Jay (Camille Ucan) has carefully organised the trip, but everything doesn’t go to plan, especially when the boat turns out to be a very small skiff aptly named Jerome, and they will all have to row.
Her extrovert mother, Gloria (Verona Rose), has returned from her Italian art exhibition bringing a more than ample supply of alcohol. Completing the trio is the stoic grandmother, Claudette (Ellen O’Grady), who has basically brought up Jay and misses her since she left to study at Edinburgh University.
The chemistry between the characters is a joy to watch as they squabble, complain and taunt each other with some hilarious results. Each vignette reveals another layer of their relationships with each other. These become fraught as they face up to the difficulties of being forced to live together in such cramped circumstances, and family secrets are slowly revealed.
Why hasn’t Jay introduced them to her fiancé, and what is she hiding? Will Gloria really settle down and get married, as she continually grumbles about her relationship, and Claudette reminisces about missing her Caribbean home and is also having doubts about her upcoming marriage.
It’s a hilarious adventure filled with loads of fun with many laugh-out-loud moments and enthusiastic dancing. A true celebration of family life as they eventually reconnect with each other.
Jasmine Swan’s pastoral set evokes the riverside with a beautiful backdrop with a willow tree surrounded by reeds, with the skiff dominating the space and Jonathan Chan’s evocative, subtle lighting. It’s skilfully directed by the Watermill’s Abigail Pickard Price. This is a delightfully funny yet emotional play.