Towards Zero, The Mill at Sonning - ★★★★★ - Until September 28, 2019


Murder and a lovely meal. This is a perfect summer's day served up by The Mill at Sonning and Brian Blessed. His direction captures the fun of Agatha Christie's classic whodunit without ever condescending to it. He hits just the right note of taking the work seriously and winking at the audience as we share a guilty pleasure. Dinah England's set is perfect and completely captures the era while Natalie Titchener's lovely costumes are completely eye-catching. The cast is excellent. Again, it is so easy to overplay or reduce to parody Christie's two dimensional characters, but these actors get it just right! They work within the genre rather than playing against it. It seems almost unfair to single anyone out, but Hildegard Neil as Lady Tressilian commanded the stage as any matriarch worth her salt should. This is a thoroughly first-rate production with an excellent two course meal before the curtain rises. It is probably the best theatrical value in London. Make the brief train journey out of the city and you will get to enjoy the pastoral pleasures of The Mill at Sonning and 'murder most puzzling'. None of us figured it out!

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆☆ 

Want to save on tickets? See our Tips page.

WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until September 28, 2019
Tue - Sat: 7:15 pm (weekly)
Thu: 2:15 pm (Aug 8, 15 & 22) 
Sat: 2:15 pm (weekly)
Sun: 2:15 pm (from Sep 1)
The Mill at Sonning
Nearest station: Reading

Most Popular

King of Pangea ★★ King's Head Theatre | Jun 7 - Jul 6, 2025

St. Martin in-the-fields: Lunchtime Concerts ★★★★ FREE

Intimate Apparel ★★★★★ Donmar Warehouse | Jun 20 - Aug 9, 2025

Stereophonic ★★★★ Duke of York's Theatre | May 24 - Oct 11, 2025

Edward Burra - Ithell Colquhoun ★★★★ Tate Britain | Jun 13 - Oct 19, 2025

Head First Acrobats – GODZ ★★★ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre | June 11 - 14, 2025

Showmanism ★★★ Hampstead Theatre | Jun 18 - Jul 12, 2025

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs ★★★ Kiln Theatre | Jun 13 - Jul 12, 2025

Summer Exhibition 2025 ★★★★ Royal Academy of Arts | Jun 17 - Aug 17, 2025

4.48 Psychosis ★★★★ Royal Court Theatre | Jun 12 - Jul 5, 2025

The City Life Magazine | Reviews & Ratings