BERNARD has planned a romantic weekend to the finest detail.
The Cordon Bleu chef is on her way, the champagne is on ice and he’s put on his best shirt for the occasion. Everything is nicely falling into place… he just needs to get rid of his wife.
With his best friend Robert due to arrive to provide the perfect alibi, Bernard’s plans are thrown into chaos when Jacqueline, his wife, announces that she won’t be going to visit her mother after all. The problem is, his mistress Suzanne is on her way, so he needs to devise a plan at lightning speed to stop all hell from breaking loose.
He enlists Robert’s help to pretend to be Suzanne’s boyfriend, but when the cook, Suzette, shows up early, Robert gets the wrong end of the stick and thinks she is the one he needs to pretend to woo. But it’s not so straightforward for him either, as he is secretly having an affair with Jacqueline behind Bernard’s back!
So not only is he trying desperately to keep the wrong ‘Suzy’ in the loop, he needs to keep his own mistress happy while trying to protect his friend – phew!
In typical Mill style, Don’t Dress For Dinner is a laugh-a-minute romp with more innuendos, confused identities and double entendres than you could shake a stick at, and it is compelling to watch.
The star of the show has to be Rikki Lawton who plays the beleaguered friend Robert.
He tries so hard to keep everything together, even when it means his own manhood could be on the line!
His and Bernard (played by Nick Waring)’s chemistry onstage is hilarious, and provide the audience with a real love-to-hate duo.
Finty Williams shines as the not-so-ditzy cook Suzette, who plays along with the game for her own financial gain. One of the highlights of the show is a clever redressing of her uniform by Bernard and Robert, and the look on her face when a slinky little black dress is revealed is comedy gold.
Carla Freeman plays the sultry mistress Suzanne who, being lured to the house under the pretence of enjoying a naughty weekend with Bernard, spends more of her time locked away in the kitchen.
Amber Edlin, who plays unsuspecting wife Jacqueline, does a superb job of stringing the suspense along: will she work out what is going on between Bernard and Suzanne? Will her and Robert be found out? Or will she and Bernard realise the error of their ways and spend the night together?
Don’t Dress For Dinner, written by Marc Camoletti and adapted by Robin Hawdon, is a classic French farce which will leave your head spinning and your sides aching.
If you can keep up with the action and the layers and layers of deceit being played out on stage, you’ll enjoy a fantastic night out.
Don’t Dress For Dinner is at The Mill at Sonning until July 1. Tickets start from £54 which includes a two-course dinner. To book call 0118 969 8000 or visit www.millatsonning.com.
