A Comedy
by BERNARD SLADE
Directed by ALVIN RAKOFF

To parents the old adage "Small children are small worries; big children are big worries" always rings true. Prunella has a grown up daughter, Tracy, whom she strives to understand. And lovely Tracy is learning to tolerate her unpredictable mother. What is needed is a catalyst to bring out the suppressed love these two intelligent women feel for each other. And along comes a catalyst. Buddy Bedford owns a bar where he croons and plays at the piano nightly. To the fascination of both mother and daughter. Especially when he sings such songs as I REMEMBER YOU. Bernard Slade is the renowned author of the huge hit SAME TIME NEXT YEAR which is in constant performance somewhere in the world at any given second of any given day. Not many playwrights can make that statement! I REMEMBER YOU has the same delicious blend of romance and comedy, to leave audiences laughing - and thinking. The Mill is also delighted to welcome back the award-winning director Alvin Rakoff to add his distinguished stamp on this production.

By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.

EMMA BARTON (Tracy Wheaton) Emma is very pleased to be staying on at The Mill, after recently playing Polly Perkins in THERE GOES THE BRIDE. Training: Guildford School of Acting. Theatre credits include: Norma Cassidy in the UK Premiere of VICTOR/VICTORIA, (Bridewell theatre). Marty in the West End production of GREASE (Victoria Palace). Eileen in the comedy OVER THE MOON playing alongside Joan Collins and directed by Ray Cooney (Old Vic). A season with the Royal Shakespeare Company creating the role of Peggy in THE SECRET GARDEN at the RST and the Aldwych Theatre. Marcia Grey in GRAB ME A GONDOLA, (Theatre Museum, Covent Garden) ANYONE CAN WHISTLE (Savoy Theatre), Angela Crowe in EVERYTHING'S TERRIFIC, HELP! (Electric Theatre, Guildford), Marie-Louise in NAPOLEON (Triumph Productions), Judy Sparrow in SCORING A HIT (The American Church), ALADDIN, DICK WHITTINGTON (Wyllotts Theatre, Potters Bar), PRINCE CHARMING (Broadway Theatre, Lewisham). Television credits include: M15 Officer in SPOOKS (BBC), Betty Jones in SECRET HISTORY (War Time Crime, Channel 4). She has also featured in many commercials, and recordings include: FAR PAVILIONS and THE SECRET GARDEN.

MARY CONLON (Prunella Somerset) Mary is delighted to be back at The Mill at Sonning where she appeared in DOUBLE CUT, THE BOSTON STORY and ROMANTIC COMEDY also by Bernard Slade. She has recently been working for the BBC in HOLBY CITY, STRANGE and DOWN TO EARTH. Other TV roles include DOCTORS, EASTENDERS, THE PARTY by Trevor Griffiths, CASUALTY, SHADOW OF THE NOOSE and FIVE CHILDREN AND IT. In keeping with her Irish heritage Mary was cast as Aunt Judy in the centenary production of JOHN BULL'S OTHER ISLAND at the Tricycle Theatre last year. A favourite part was Kate in DANCING AT LUGHNASA performed at The Watermill in Newbury and Greenwich. She has worked extensively in theatre and toured in many plays; as Lady Macbeth in MACBETH, Minnie in D H Lawrence's THE DAUGHTER IN LAW, Rachel in MY COUSIN RACHEL, Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT, Felicity in HOUSE OF STAIRS and enjoyed a world tour of A TOUCH OF SPRING, travelling as far as Sarawak near Borneo.

MICHAEL HOWE (Austin 'Buddy' Bedford) Michael has recently returned from Italy where he had the great pleasure in playing one of the leads in the film OUR GIRL - prior to this appearing as a celebrity as chef in the film THE GREAT ECSTASY OF ROBERT CARMICHAEL and FAT SLAGS (film) Director Ed Bye. For TV he has appeared in the series eHOLLYOAKS playing Mr Wilson, Barrister, which received best courtroom drama for a soap. Other TV seris - Sebastian in SOLO opposiste Felicity Kendal - CASALTY - RAYS RAIDERS - THE UPPER HAND - STUDIO - SOUTH BY SOUTH EAST - CATS EYES - KINGS & QUEENS - THESE FOOLISH THINGS - WHERE THERE'S A WILL opposite Patrick McNee and the title role in TOM GRATONS WAR. In theatre - Henry II in THE LION IN WINTER Edinburgh Fringe, Cassio in OTHELLO, Bridewell - THE DRAG QUEEN, in ELEGIES FOR PUNKS and ANGELS AND RAGING QUEENS, Kings Head - Oberon/Theseus - MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM - Southampton and PUCK - Intimate Theatre (Dream again), Vernon Gersh THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG - Far East Tour - Dean Martin in RAT PACK tour - West End - Paul Burns in OH WHAT A NIGHT - Mr Jingle in PICKWICK director Patrick Garland - Freddie Trumper in CHESS director Treveor Nunn - Billy Lawlor - 42nd STREET, director Lucia Victor - Mordred in CAMELOT opposite the late great Richard Harris director Michael Rudman - Danny Zuko in GREASE director Tom Moore. Michael is delighted to be working at Sonning and with ALVIN RAKOFF in the yet to be released film for video NUMBER ONE GUN, BLESS THIS HOUSE, PROJECT Z and THE HUNGER. Michael has recently completed playing the title role, Brett Gunner, in the film 'GUNNER' for 24 Carrot Films.

MARTYN STANBRIDGE (Oliver Pemberton) Martyn's theatre work includes: seasons at Oxford Playhouse, Birmingham Rep, Bromley, Bristol Old Vic, Cambridge, Liverpool Playhouse, Glasgow Citizens, Theatr Clwyd, Dublin, Exeter, Cheltenham, Westcliff, Windsor and Northampton. Plays include: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, PEER GYNT, CHIPS WITH EVERYTHING, THE WHITE DEVIL, MACBETH, TRANSLATIONS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, SALONIKA, WILD OATS, ABSENT FRIENDS, LES LIASONS DANGEREUSES, BRIEF ENCOUNTER, DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER. In London: VENICE PRESERV'D at the RNT, THE VORTEX at the Garrick Theatre, BERENICE at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, THE MILLIONAIRESS and THREE SISTERS at The Greenwich Theatre and THE VERGE at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond. Recently, tour of ROMANTIC COMEDY in Vienna and Far East. At Sonning: DEATHTRAP, SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR, BEDSIDE MANNERS, MURDER WITHOUT CRIME, THE MAINTENANCE MAN, CAUGHT ON THE HOP, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER LAURA and WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY. Television: GOOD AND BAD AT GAMES, A POCKETFUL OF RYE, PARADISE POSTPONED, MURROW, AD, THE DAY AFTER THE FAIR, HEDGEHOG WEDDING, PARTNERS LOVERS SPIES, THE GOOD GUYS, THE BILL, DOCTOR FINLAY and McLIBEL.

ALVIN RAKOFF (Director) Alvin Rakoff former President of the Directors Guild of Great Britain, has directed - in a career that now spans decades - more than 100 landmark television dramas and a dozen feature films. Among other awards, he is twice winner of the coveted International Emmy Award (for A VOYAGE ROUND MY FATHER - Laurence Olivier; and CALL ME DADDY - Donald Pleasance). Actors he has directed include: Sean Connery, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Rex Harrison, Donald Wolfit, Michael Gambon, Jeremy Irons, Alan Rickman, Michael Crawford, Michael Caine, Roger Moore, Peter Sellers, Richard Harris, Kenneth More, Henry Fonda, Rod Steiger, etc. and Judi Dench, Wendy Hiller, Edith Evans, Celia Johnson, Jean Simmons, Ava Gardner, Shelley Winters, Lee Remick, Angela Lansbury, Claire Bloom, Jane Asher, Zoe Wanamaker, Fiona Shaw, and many, many more. His writing, as a journalist, enabled him to graduate from University of Toronto. He has written television plays, adaptations, screenplays. Recently he turned to writing novels. His first novel & GILLIAN (Little Brown) was translated into ten languages. His second novel on genetic cloning, SEVEN EINSTEINS, has been optioned for a film. His third book BALDWIN STREET was acclaimed in Germany. His fourth novel sits, almost complete, on his computer, awaiting his return. His theatre work ranges from HAMLET at the Bristol Old Vic, to a star-studded - Richard Briers, Wayne Sleep, Penelope Keith, etc - charity performance at Royal Albert Hall before HM Queen. This is his 3rd visit to The Mill having previously directed STAGE STRUCK by Simon Gray starring Nicolas Jones; and more recently the musical biography of American songwriter Johnny Mercer, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, which he also wrote. For more information please see websites: www.alvinrakoff.com or www.tabletopproductions.com .

SUE CONDIE (Designer) Sue trained at the Middlesex Polytechnic and the Nottingham Trent University in Theatre Design. For the first four years she worked with a variety of touring companies, designing "Tongues Will Wag" for Greenwich YPT; "Can't See the Wood for the Trees" for Roundabout TIE; "Stone Moon" and "The Party" for Theatr lolo and several productions for Action Transport Theatre, including "Macbeth", "The Magic Book" and "Broken Angel". Sue then became Associate Resident Designer at the New Victoria Theatre, Staffordshire, where designs included "Ghosts", "Private Lives", "Oliver Twist", "The Hound of the Baskervilles", "Overture", "Beauty and the Beast", "Insignificance" and "Aladdin" (costumes)and recently returning to design "Billy Liar" (also for the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough), "Sweeny Todd" and "Outside Edge". Other freelance designs include "East is East", "Corpse", "Hot Pants" and "Roughyeds" (Oldham Coliseum); "Insignificance", "Animal Farm", "Return To The Forbidden Planet" and "Alice" (Harrogate Theatre); "Three Minute Heroes" and "Dick Whittington" (Belgrade Theatre, Coventry); "A Chaste Maid in Cheapside" and "Mother Country" (New Vic, Bristol); and "The Just So Stories", "Aesop's Fables" and "Shouting at Shadows" (Sixth Sense Theatre/Cheltenham Everyman).

JANE KIDD (Costume Designer) Jane who is our Resident Costume Designer, trained in Fashion Design at Berkshire College of Art. She freelanced in knitwear and dress design for five years before joining The Mill as Wardrobe Mistress, and enjoys a variety of making both period and modern costumes of which she has made many whilst at The Mill. Some of Jane's recent costume designs include TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS, INSIDE JOB, SEASON'S GREETINGS, BUILDING BLOCKS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR, POOLS PARADISE, BOYS WILL BE BOYS, THE MATING GAME, WRITE ME A MURDER, A PASSIONATE WOMAN, FUNNY MONEY, JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES, THE FACE OF FEAR, YOU'RE ONLY YOUNG TWICE, AN EVENING WITH GARY LINEKER, STEPPING OUT and THERE GOES THE BRIDE.