Moya O’Shea’s Room Service Included is rather more serious than the escapist froth generally supplied by The Mill at Sonning. Though billed as a comedy, it could more fairly be described as a well-written new play with a ready line in wit.
You could also — perhaps a little pompously — call it a social document, showing us Britain of the 1950s.
These were the buttoned- up, belt-tightened days of austerity — though not for the exceptionally wealthy have-what-she-wants Caroline (Jo Herbert).
Top of her wish list is a new husband, an ambition hard to achieve in the days before divorce on demand. In the absurd manner of the time, she needs to be caught in a compromising situation with a third party to supply ‘grounds’.
As was often the case, the bedroom of a Brighton hotel (brilliantly created by designer Dinah England) is the setting for the tryst. Paid to be her pretend lover is ‘resting’ actor Fulwood Longton (Nick Waring).
From the moment they speak — at the end of a long clinch staged for the benefit of nosy hotel porter Bentley (Frank Scantori)— it seems clear they are chalk and cheese.
Or are they? For even as she waspishly lays into Fulwood about earlier assignments of the sort, where pretence has occasionally been dropped in favour of the real thing, it starts to seem that Caroline might not be averse to something of the sort herself . . .
Ingeniously plotted and punchily directed (Andy de la Tour), the play features top-class performances in both main roles. The air of mischievous mystery Mr Waring brings to his role adds significantly to the play’s appeal, while Ms Herbert utterly convinces as a woman who is not at all the rich bitch she appears.
Until February 25. (Box office: 0118 969 8000.)
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article