Shear Madness: The Mill at Sonning

Shear Madness; the play first performed over 40 years ago ( based on a German language play written by Paul Pörtner), yet has a different outcome every night. The play where the audience plays detective and the actors improvise at every twist and turn. The only thing consistent every night is that there has been a murder in a hair salon. This performance at The Mill at Sonning was rewritten to be set in Henley on Thames and to include local references, such as the detective wearing a reading football club t-shirt. The actors energy was ecstatic; they all genuinely looked like they were enjoying being on stage, not just during the rehearsed lines but the banter between them and the audience members as they were placed under interrogation.

DO NOT READ THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTED PARAGRAPH IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS!!

After all the evidence is collected, the audience vote for who they think the murderer is and what plays out afterwards is a scene adapted to match the audience’s decision. So whoever the majority of the audience votes for, will always be the guilty party. This is my only criticism; I feel this took any incentive to go see the play again that the improvisation throughout had created, that is unless I one day forget the ending of course. I would prefer it if it was set up so the audience votes but then finds out if they voted correctly or wrongly for that night’s performance. This is of course just a personal opinion perhaps as a result of my competitive nature and not a reflection of the actors or the production.

Overall, the production was incredibly funny, with witty jokes, spontaneous dancing/singing and perfect delivery of the lines. Just as you’d expect from professional actors who have experience on stage and in minor roles on television. 

A word on the venue; The Mill at Sonning was an incredible host. The theatre is small but cosy. In the front row I was almost on the stage, but this worked incredibly well for a production that is as much about the audience participation and improvisation as the scripted moments. The pre play food was a small and simple basic pub dinner menu done well, with the food being included in ticket price ( except where stated when booking).  The Mill at Sonning last year were close to closing, but after help from a group of local supporters the venue was fortunately able to survive and I’m glad that was the case, otherwise I would have missed out on experiencing this wonderful theatre and any further fantastic productions they host. The Venue also proudly champions giving young people their first jobs, so that they can gain the skills and experience that future employers will look for; another reason to support this absolute gem of a theatre.