The Mill at Sonning |
Box office
0118 969 8000
Sonning Eye, Reading, RG4 6TY.
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The Whistling, 27th September to 16th November
When Elspeth arrives on a remote Scottish island to become a nanny to a young child, she hopes to bond with her. Until she learns that, for reasons no one will explain, Mary has not spoken for months.
And the girl’s silence is not the only mystery. Hypnotic lullabies drift down empty corridors. Strange dolls appear in abandoned rooms. And the nights draw in, darker questions arise… What happened to Mary’s late twin, William? Why did their previous nanny disappear so suddenly? And is the whistling Elspeth hears at night just the storm outside? Or is somebody coming for her?
This ghost story will sends shivers down your spine and haunt your dreams. Simply not to be missed!
White Christmas, 27th November to 25th January
Irving Berlin‘s classic Broadway musical based on the beloved film. This heartwarming show, follows two World War II veterns as they team up with a sister act to save a local inn and discover the true meaning of Christmas. Filled with so many memorable songs including
Blue Skies, Sisters, How Deep is the Ocean – and of course
White Christmas.
Reviews of The Whistling
27th September to 16th Novemberr 2024
Review from the Newbury Weekly News.
Spine-chiller at The Mill
"all the ingredients of a good, spooky ghost story and then some... gripping and creepy all the way though... original in terms of theatrical story telling"
The Whistling at the Mill at Sonning has all the ingredients of a good, spooky ghost story. And then some.
It is an adaptation of Rebecca Netley’s novel and a world premiere. It has been adapted for the stage by Rachel Wagstaff and Duncan Abel. The director, Joseph Pitcher has been assisted by an assistant director doubling as a movement director, lighting, and sound designers, set designer and an illusionist. Now it isn’t too often you see an illusionist listed with a production team. They needed him though, that’s for sure.
Craggy, forbidding looking stage flats moved around the stage eerily as the skyline formed a swirling blue/grey haze. Dark figures in bleak clothing appeared suddenly from the rear, side or back of the stage and just seemed to float, menacingly.
As to the whistling that was just a part of it. Wind, thumping great heartbeat like sounds and strange, menacing music were all skilfully integrated into this production. It wasn’t just the stuff of nightmares it was a treble dose of them.
The story concerns the arrival of Elspeth on a remote Scottish island in the 1860s to become a nanny to a frightened, bereaved young girl. Rebecca Forsyth played the visitor using a wide range of emotions and many different expressions to play the determined, sometimes frightened but compassionate young woman.
The very young girl Mary was played impressively by Sophie Bidgood on this night. Due to rules restricting young actors there were two others on different nights.
Making her professional acting debut as Mary is Ivy Evans from Cold Ash - “She's brilliant!” is the verdict from The Mill. She was on standby for the performance I saw, but did have a brief appearance as she ran across the back of the stage in ghostly fashion.
Heather Jackson was impressive as Ailsa, an older woman who has seen it all, done it all and knows many a ghostly secret. Raghad Chaar was suitably stiff and uncompromising as Greer. Johnny McGarrity was the only male actor, but he did get to play three different characters. Stephanie Farrell, Susie Riddell and Nadia Kramer were busy either acting or floating across stage like
Mary has lost her brother whose death shocks her into losing her voice. Elspeth, her new nanny is grieving for the death of her sister. These two form a sympathetic alliance and understanding and that’s all the storyline you will get from me.
Is it gripping and creepy all the way though? Is it original in terms of theatrical story telling?
You bet it is.
DEREK ANSELL
For more details
see the Mill's web site at millatsonning.com.
Reviews in the Archive
Bedroom Farce (August 2024)
Three Men in a boat (June 2024)
Calendar Girls (April 2024)
Deathtrap (February 2024)
High Society (November 2023)
How the Other Half Loves (August 2023)
Gypsy (May 2023)
Hay Fever (March 2023)
Top Hat (November 2022)
Funny Money (September 2022)
Barefoot in the Park (June 2022)
Busman's Honeymoon (April 2022)
The House on Cold Hill (February 2022)
Top Hat (October 2021)
Two Into One (August 2021)
Relatively Speaking (February 2020)
Singin' in the Rain (November 2019)
Run for Your Wife (October 2019)
Private Lives (June 2019)
Guys and Dolls (November 2018)
A Night in Provence (September 2018)
Ten Times Table (August 2018)
The Unexpected Guest (June 2018)
Move Over, Mrs Markham (April 2018)
The Hound of the Baskervilles (February 2018)
My Fair Lady (November 2017)
Perfect Wedding (September 2017)
Spider's Web (July 2017)
Improbable Fiction (March 2017)
Dead Simple (January 2017)
High Society (November 2016)
The Hollow (July 2016)
Last of the Red Hot Lovers (March 2016)
The Perfect Murder (January 2016)
Stepping Out (November 2015)
Round and Round the Garden (October 2015)
Love, Loss, and What I Wore (August 2015)
Killjoy (May 2015)
Educating Rita (January 2015)
Last Confessions of a Scallywag (July 2014)