Three Men in a Boat at Rose Theatre Kingston – review

It could hardly be more apt that a new adaptation of Jerome K Jerome’s 130-year-old comic novella is now playing at Kingston’s Rose Theatre. Following three friends and a dog as they take a calamitous boat trip up the Thames from Kingston to Oxford, Al Smith’s madcap new version is stupendously silly and full of frivolous fun.

Jerome’s book was originally intended to be a travel guide, as recreational boating became increasingly fashionable. What evolved was more a series of comic anecdotes and Smith’s adaptation adds some plotlines to give some narrative arc to the exploits of pals Jerome, George, Harris and dog Monty.

The boat trip is now a pseudo stag do for George, who will marry fiancée Petronella in Oxford at the end; Harris is a doctor and recent widower, and Jerome is a former president of the Oxford Anglers Club. These details allow for much of the playful nonsense, such as Jerome bringing a framed, stuffed trout to allow for the Plaster of Paris fish joke and Harris butchering a whole pig aboard to satisfy their plans to eat hundreds of sausages.

The tight cast of four bring huge energy and pace, quick-wittedly breaking the fourth wall when not everything goes to plan on stage. They also throw themselves into the nimble physical comedy, with full credit to John Nicholson’s excellent movement direction.

Jonny Weldon excels as frustrated writer Jerome, obsessed with his imaginary ailments and angling club and utterly determined to commit to a week on the water. Weldon embraces the rapid wordplay of the role with ease.

Bronté Barbé is loud and charmingly ebullient as Harris, her gender-flipping allowing for several tongue-in-cheek jokes. Richard David-Caine is quieter and dryly witty as George, who believes it is immoral to have bacon without eggs, but also hides personal struggles.

Almost stealing the show is Calum Donald-Bruce as an adorable Montmorency, now called Monty, whose agile puppeteering brings the mischievous fox terrier vividly to life.

Fans of the story will be delighted that getting lost in Hampton Court maze and the attempt to make Irish stew remain. Director Christopher Haydon leans into the slapstick and the act one finale of a riotous run-in with some decidedly angry swans is hilarious. Toy cygnets are scattered into the audience and there are a lot of feathers for the crew to clean up during the interval.

Smith also adds elements of a sensitive study of male friendship. Each man finds a deeper understanding of the other, as personal confessions poke through the comedy; this pathos adding depth to the production.

Simon Kenny’s clever designs immediately set the scene, with a tilted proscenium arch creating the optical illusion of a sloping stage. The impression of water is jocular, with families of ducks gliding past on the revolve and a great moment where Jerome breaks the water’s surface by coming up through blue paper on the stage floor.

Jerome’s story was written in 1889 and Grant Olding’s music pulls from music hall and vaudeville, giving us several jolly and lyrically smart songs between scenes, although a couple outstay their welcome.

Yes, it’s all very cosy and a little bit twee, but Three Men in a Boat is delightfully old-fashioned and anarchic British comedy at its very best: something we all need more of right now.