The plot follows three friends in Victorian London who decide that they'll take a boating holiday on the River Thames. They set sail from Kingston and for one week they scull along the river until they reach Oxford, regaling each other with amusing anecdotes and encountering many colourful characters along the way.  | | 'Three men in a boat' |
Clive Francis, Neil Stacy and Simon Ward star as the three friends, Jerome, George and Harris, and the fact that the actors have all known each other for decades is very apparent. They seemed completely at ease with each other, which made their depiction of old friends, and the whimsical storyline, all the more believable. Even their dog, Montmorency, who the audience are left to imagine, seemed real at times. I will admit that when Francis placed the make-believe pooch in a basket and then went to lift him out, I was half-expecting a real dog to appear. Ward's amusing songs were a particular highlight, especially his attempt to sing various tunes from HMS Pinafore with accompaniment from Stacy. To say anymore though would be to ruin what is undoubtedly one of the show's funniest moments. The scenery also lifted the production from run-of-the-mill to exceptional. The set comprised three archways, with a rotating stage running through the outside two like a river. | "They seemed completely at ease with each other, which made their depiction of old friends, and the whimsical storyline, all the more believable." | | Katharine Sutton |
The boat circled smoothly around the stage, dispelling any fears I might have had that this show would be reminiscent of a school production with cardboard waves being moved in front of a miniature boat. My only criticism would be that the production should have finished when the boat trip ended. Francis adapted Jerome's book for the stage, and I think he would have improved the original by omitting the characters' return to the city and foray into show business. This is a small quibble though for what was otherwise a very enjoyable show. Three stage veterans, impressive scenery and a witty plot combine to create a piece of memorable theatre that cannot fail to amuse. Simon Ward spoke to Katharine about 'Three men in a boat', his long-term friendship with Clive Francis and Neil Stacy and a certain television judge.Click here to read the feature and listen to the interview... | 
