THREE MEN IN A BOAT

Rose Theatre Kingston

★★★★

“funny, farcical and full of heart”

‘Three Men in a Boat’ – a riotous, riverside romp – makes its world premiere on the banks of the Thames. Packed with preposterous pandemonium, audiences will fall in love with this bonkers bout of Britishness.

On a whim, Jerome, Harris and George set off on a boating misadventure from Kingston to Oxford ahead of Harris’ wedding. As the impromptu stag descends into chaos, the hapless trio – helped by Monty the dog – must muddle through together.

Written by Al Smith and based on Jerome K. Jerome’s classic comic novel, this inventive musical gleefully taps into panto and music hall traditions, with cheeky innuendo, knockabout slapstick and a non-existent fourth wall. The dialogue is full of wicked one-liners and devastating Victorian disdain, set against escalating absurdity to keep you on your toes. There’s emotional depth too, touching on strained friendships, pre-wedding jitters and grief with surprising clarity. A couple of moments could be tighter, particularly a tongue-twister routine that goes on a tad long, and the somewhat leisurely build to the finale. Even so, it’s a charming caper that cleverly refreshes a British classic for modern audiences.

Grant Olding’s music and lyrics blend music hall traditions with modern irreverence, with plenty of period styles – including a rapid-fire patter song akin to “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” after a few pints – and a lot more swearing. The orchestrations are delightfully playful and the lyrics match the script’s wit line for line. The hallucinatory drum-and-bass detour could crank up the delirium further. Otherwise, the score complements the production’s spark and silliness beautifully.

Christopher Haydon’s direction – with movement from John Nicholson, puppetry by Chris Pirie, fight direction by Riad Richie and choreography by Simon Hardwick – embraces the story’s whimsy with infectious charm. Cast scramble over audience members, swimmers burst through the stage, and a gloriously chaotic swan attack sends goslings flying into the auditorium. The double revolves are used to great effect, conjuring a shifting labyrinth – sorry, maze – and picturesque river sequences, while the pacing and comic timing rarely put a foot wrong. Though transitions could be slicker – hindered by an unruly lightweight curtain – and the finale feels a touch buttoned-up after the bonkers Act One closer. Even so, this lively, inventive production always has a surprise up its sleeve and proves immensely good fun.

Simon Kenny’s set and costume design perfectly capture the anarchic spirit, with everything delightfully off kilter, prim period artwork becoming gleefully upended, and offbeat attire brilliantly reflecting the characters and chaos. Olding’s sound design brings atmosphere and impact, though the vocals could sit higher in the mix to land every lyric. Simisola Majekodunmi’s lighting shifts effortlessly between realism and absurdity, while Charlie Tymms’ puppets are utterly charming.

This superb cast sparkles with wit and precision, landing every punchline with razor-sharp timing and navigating ad-libs and mishaps – including a stubborn urn lid – with effortless flair. Jonny Weldon’s Jerome is tragically forthright: a man who always has the words, except when they matter most. Richard David-Caine’s George cuts through the Victorian verbosity with deliciously dry barbs, making every appearance a treat. Bronté Barbé’s Harris is sweet, earnest and endearingly oblivious, before switching seamlessly into his warm-but-weary fiancée. Meanwhile, Monty the dog, charmingly puppeteered by Calum Donald-Bruce, repeatedly steals scenes with scruffy charisma and unexpected wisdom. Together they’re an irresistible bunch with plenty of vocal firepower.

‘Three Men in a Boat’ is funny, farcical and full of heart. This is one trip up the Thames you won’t regret making.