We'll Always Have Paris ★★★★ The Mill at Sonning | Jan 19 - Mar 11, 2023


Great food and delightful entertainment! A get-away to Paris? Or even easier, a visit to The Mill at Sonning to see the dinner-theatre's latest offering. We'll Always Have Paris recounts the meeting of three school friends who are reinventing themselves. Nancy has retired from being a school headmistress, Anna is recently widowed after years of being a caregiver, and Raquel is on the verge of losing her latest toy boy. All three are in Paris, the city which may, or may not, offer them a new lease on life. This heartwarming show is engagingly humorous and unobtrusively thought provoking. Elizabeth Elvin is quite perfect as the sensible former educator who knows who she is, and Debbie Arnold is hilarious as the dizzy Raquel who defines herself by the man she is with. Between these two poles is Anna who has been trapped by an abusive relationship and who must now chart a new path. Natalie Ogle succeeds in subtly creating this transformation and while the play teases the audience with a romantic conclusion, it cleverly avoids clichés. Michael Holt's set is an evocative invocation of a Parisian garret, and Sally Hughes' direction is polished and low-key. There's no need to catch the Eurostar for that much-needed break, just head off to The Mill at Sonning.

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Andrea Lambis.

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When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Sonning Eye, Reading RG4 6TY, UK

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