Angie Johnson laughs out loud at an amusing night of antics from Alan Ayckbourne

"I just wanted to make you happy!" shouts Norman at the finale of Alan Ayckbourne’s classic comedy Round and Round the Garden, and that is what this splendid new production at The Mill at Sonning accomplished in spades.

I haven’t heard so much sustained chortling and guffawing at a theatre for many a long day.

The play is part of Ayckbourne’s Norman Conquest trilogy, each play of which stands up very well independently (and this show made me hungry to see the others – ideally by the same team).

Set over a weekend at the home of their demanding invalid mother, a dysfunctional trio of siblings and their partners gather together with hilarious consequences.

Single daughter, and Mother’s principal carer, Annie has called in her brother Reg and sister-in-law Sarah to take over while she has a weekend away.

But what they don’t realise is she plans to spend it in a hotel bedroom with her sister Ruth’s feckless husband Norman. Thrown into this volatile mix is Annie’s next door neighbour and potential suitor Tom, so things kick off marvellously.

The production features a superb ensemble, who play off each other with flawless timing.

Satisfyingly Director Abigail Anderson has shaped the perfect tenor for the piece, keeping things sharply funny but still very human - you really care about these silly people as the play progresses.

I was interested to note that there are two real sisters in the cast - Susannah and Nelly Harker play Sarah and Annie and both are terrific.

While James Wallace delights as the raffish Norman. Harry Gostelow and Sarah Edwardson, as Reg and Ruth, also stand out despite serious competition from those in the more expansively written roles.

Chris Porter gives a pitch perfect performance as the naive next door neighbour Tom and would have stolen the show if the rest of them weren’t so very good.

As always at The Mill the production values were exceptional. Designer Michael Holt’s set and Jane Kidd’s perfect costuming really brought the 1970’s setting alive.

This show is a proper hoot, pure and simple.

5/5