Three Men in a Boat review – quirky novella makes for perky, fun-forward theatre

Rose theatre, Kingston upon Thames
A rag puppet Montmorency, a fake moustache and an aria for reeking cheese add to the mischief of Jerome K Jerome’s very English story

Back from Lib Dem conference, Ed Davey watched this adaptation in his Kingston constituency of Jerome K Jerome’s novella about a trio of late Victorian gents rowing the Thames accompanied by fox terrier Montmorency. Might the up-for-fun politician suddenly drop on to the stage in a Scooby-Doo suit?

He didn’t, although Christopher Haydon’s perky production features one actor making an applause-winning entrance from an improbable location. This version is also certainly more liberal and democratic than the 1889 text whose language has often dated in meaning or propriety.