Boys Will Be Boys
A new comedy written and directed by
Simon Williams

Romantic fiction, written by a woman for women is what the female species want to read. That's what publishers think! So the very masculine Lenny has been masquerading for a long time as Myrtle Banbury, the queen of romantic novels. But now he has had enough of the fame, the lies, the lipstick, the wig - to say nothing of the high heels. To complicate matters he has fallen desperately in love. Re decides to 'kill off' his auntie Myrtle. But Lenny has reckoned without the notorious journalist, Letitia Butters who really believes Lenny has murdered his aunt. Lovelorn and miserably hoist on his own petard, Lenny improvises a hasty reincarnation for Myrtle. During the frantic séance that follows Lenny makes sure that his cross-dressing alter ego will never again come back to haunt him Simon Williams' new comedy is a riotous sequel to his earlier play KISS MY AUNT (retitled NOBODY'S PERFECT on its highly successful National Tour), which was a huge hit here at its premiere a few years ago. A scrumptious entertainment for all!

SIMON WILLIAMS (Lenny/Director/Playwright)

"I am so pleased to be back at The Mill and very daunted by the number of times my name seems to appear in the programme. I would like to thank Sally Hughes so much for her unfailing support and encouragement. It is a rare treat for a playwright to know in advance that his play will start its life on such a perfect stage and in front of such a friendly audience. I do hope you enjoy it".

West End appearances include: A FRIEND INDEED, HAY FEVER, HIS HERS & THEIRS, THE COLLECTOR, NO SEX PLEASE - WE'RE BRITISH, GIGI, THE LAST OF MRS CHEYNEY, FIGHTING CHANCE, THE COMMON PURSUIT, SEE HOW THEY RUN, THE BLACK PRINCE, THE LOVER, THE WINSLOW BOY and THE CONSTANT WIFE last year. National tours include AN IDEAL HUSBAND, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, DEATHTRAP, DONKEYS YEARS, REBECCA and TARTUFFE. He has played two seasons at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Simon's television credits include UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS, AGONY, DON'T WAIT UP, THE MYSTERIES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES etc… More recently Simon has been in KILLER NET, A RESPECTABLE TRADE, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, SWORD OF HONOUR and THE GATHERING STORM. This summer he can be seen in BAD GIRLS and HOLBY CITY. His film credits include: THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, FIENDISH PLOT OF DR FU MANCHU (both with Peter Sellers), THE BREAKING OF BUMBO, JOANNA, THE INCREDIBLE SARAH, THE ODD JOB, NO LONGER ALONE, THE BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW and THE OPIUM WARS. His directing credits include: UNDERGROUND with Raymond Burr at The Prince of Wales, Alan Bennett's WHAT IF IT RAINS at the Chichester festival Studio and several national tours. He has directed a number of plays at The Mill at Sonning including three of his own. Bother his novels TALKING OSCARS and KILL THE LIGHTS featured in the best-seller lists. He has also written five plays - SWITCHBACK and KISS OF DEATH, both thrillers, an adaptation of THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and two comedies NOBODY'S PERFECT and LAYING THE GHOST. He is the Co-Chairman of the Actors' Charitable Trust which administers Denville Hall, the profession's care home.

KAREN ASCOE (Fran) Karen appeared recently at Sonning in Ayckbourn's SEASON'S GREETINGS, as Belinda. Last year she played Elizabeth in TAKING STEPS, which went on from Sonning to have a further successful run at the Theatre Royal, Windsor. Other favourite theatre includes: Dolly in ANNA KARENINA for Shared Experience, at the Lyric, Hammersmith and on U.K and World Tour; Barbs in PERFECT DAYS, Stephanie in TIME OF MY LIFE, Majorie in EXTREMITIES (Playhouse, Derby); Rhoda in ROOKERY NOOK, Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT, Julia in the RIVALS (Mercury, Colchester); LOOT and THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Swan, Worcester); Sasha in IVANOV, Hero in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, (Strand London); A SHAYNA MAIDEL (Ambassadors, London); at the Orange Tree, Richmond; ADAM BEDE, PERE GORIOT, THE CASE OF REBELLIOUS SUSAN, DR. KNOCK, SILAS MARNER, THE CASSILIS ENGAGEMENT; OUT THERE - a jazz-theatre piece at the Riverside Studios with Django Bates. Recent television includes: DREAM TEAM, CASUALTY, ARMADILLO, THE ARMANDO IANNUCCI SHOWS, LONDON'S BURNING, PEAK PRACTICE, KID IN THE CORNER. Film: PAPER MASK, LOAF. Karen won the BBC Radio Drama Competition while training at the Guildhall and spent 7 months with the Radio Drama Company. Favourite parts include Doreen in TARTUFFE and Miranda in THE TEMPEST with the late Sir John Gielgud.

SHEILA BALLANTINE (Letitia Butters) Sheila made her first West End appearance as Phoebe in TOAD OF TOAD HALL (Comedy Theatre). Numerous London theatre credits include: Joyce Orton's A RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR (Royal Court), and Fay in his LOOT (Criterion), Betty in Brecht's ARTURO UI with Leonard Rossiter (Saville Theatre), Evangeline in J Osborne's WEST OF SUEZ with Ralph Richardson (Royal Court and Cambridge Theatre), Goneril in KING LEAR (Aldwych Theatre and Australia) Stella Shrift in J Osborne's THE END OF ME OLD CIGAR (Greenwich), Sarah in THE NORMAN CONQUSTS (Gielgud and Queen's Theatres), Mathilda in David Storey's EARLY DAYS with Ralph Richardson (Comedy Theatre also Toronto and Washington DC), Anne in Simon Gray's STAGE STRUCK with Alan Bates (Vaudeville Theatre), Vera in STEPPING OUT (Duke of York), Margaret in CURTAINS (Hampstead and Whitehall Theatres), Madame de Rochefide/Sarrasine in SARRASINE (Drill Hall and New York) Fatateeta in Shaw's CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA with Alec McCowan (Greenwich Theatre). Other theatre credits are very extensive, and also seasons at the National and RSC. TV includes: VILLAGE WOOING, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, THE POSSESSED, AFTER LIVERPOOL, ALL YOU YOUNG LOVERS, A HOUSE AND ITS HEAD, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI, BEGGAR MY NEIGHBOUR, SADIE IT'S COLD OUTSIDE, THE PARTY OF THE FIRST PART, THE ORESTAEIA, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, SHRINKS, THE BILL, THE BIG EAT, CONFEDERACY OF WIVES, EARLY DAYS, A FAMILY AFFAIR, BLUE MURDER. Films include: TOM JONES, THE VICTORS, REMEMBRANCE, WE THINK THE WORLD OF YOU, NOW THAT IT'S MORNING, DAVID'S DREAM, SARAH DARLING! Radio work includes: Readings of Katherine Mansfield stories, several plays for the World Service and some talks on Joe Orton.

GARETH THOMAS (Gus) Gareth was trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (of which he is now an associate member). He has been acting for over thirty years and is still learning. During that time he has worked with the RSC in TWELFTH NIGHT, OTHELLO, ANNA CHRISTIE; and the ESC in HENRY IV pt I, HENRY IV pt 2 and HENRY V. Other theatre credits include: KING LEAR, Frank in EDUCATING RITA, Big Daddy in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, Danforth, THE CRUCIBLE; and recently Sir Toby Belch in TWELFTH NIGHT and Martin Dysart in EQUUS. He also played Cliff in DÉJÀ VU, John Osborne's last play in the West End. Gareth is also a well-know face on TV where his credits include: STOCKER'S COPPER, HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY, BY THE SWORD DIVIDED, SUTHERLAND'S LAW and MORGAN'S BOY for BBC; and BOON, EDWARD VII, CHILDREN OF THE STONES, SHERLOCK HOLMES, LONDON'S BURNING and CORONATION STREET (nearly thirty years ago). Despite all this and numerous radio dramas and films he is probably best remembered as Blake in the TV sci-fi series BLAKE'S 7. Gareth has twice been nominated for BAFTA awards.

AMY WILLIAMS (Dee Dee) Amy trained at the Guildford School of Acting where she appeared in such productions as BLOOD WEDDING, THE ROSE TATTOO, THE COUNTRY WIFE and as Linda in A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL . Subsequently Amy joined Jill Freud's company at Southwold where she appeared in ROOKERY NOOK, DANGEROUS CORNER and went on to appear opposite Patrick Mower in a revival of THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY here at The Mill. Amy created the role of Dee Dee in NOBODY'S PERFECT on both legs of a very successful National Tour. On television she has appeared briefly in a DOCTOR WHO adventure and in a pilot for Yorkshire TV called ONLY IN DEFENCE. Amy also played Sarah in the BBC's dramatisation of Elizabeth Jane Howard's popular classic, THE CAZALET CHRONICLES.

JACQUELINE HUTSON (Set Designer) Jacqueline Hutson trained in Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art. Previous designs for The Mill include: STEPPING OUT, THE RAINMAKER, THE MAINTENANCE MAN, THE LITTLE HUT, PASTIMES, THE BUSINESS OF MURDER, KISS MY AUNT, NOEL & GERTIE, BORN YESTERDAY, LOVE'S A LUXURY, LEND ME A TENOR, THE WAITING GAME, DON'T ROCK THE BOAT, DEAD GUILTY, WORM'S EYE VIEW, LAURA, A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS, SAY WHO YOU ARE, LAYING THE GHOST, THE PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY, ONE FOR THE POT, THE PERFECT PENSION PLAN, KISS OF DEATH , DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, WIFE BEGINS AT FORTY, DON'T JUST LIE THERE, SAY SOMETHING!, MAKE ME A MATCH, A SLIGHT HANGOVER, ALL FOR MARY, MOVE OVER MARKHAM and INSIDE JOB.

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 MOVE OVER MRS MARKHAM, TAKING STEPS, UNDER THE YUM-YUM TREE, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, FUNNY ABOUT LOVE, MY THREE ANGELS, INSIDE JOB, SEASON'S GREETINGS, BUILDING BLOCKS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR and POOLS PARADISE.

ROSLYN NASH (Lighting Designer) Roslyn trained at Mountview Theatre School and has worked at The Mill for over ten years. She started as Technical Assistant and now has the pleasure of being the Production Manager. Over the years she has been given the opportunity to light many of the productions - a few recent ones include: WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS?, TAKING STEPS, TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, CHASE ME COMRADE, FUNNY BUSINESS, MY THREE ANGELS, SEASON'S GREETINGS, A FOOT IN THE DOOR and POOLS PARADISE.

SALLY HUGHES (Artistic Director) Sally spent her early years in Venezuela and Argentina and after finishing her education in England, she then trained for the stage as an actress at The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. On graduating she was given her first engagement by John Fernald who directed her in COMING OF AGE. Then followed ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN at The Bush and CATCHPENNY TWIST at The King's Head Theatre. In 1984 Sally took over the post of Artistic Director of The Mill At Sonning from Peter Egan and has directed and appeared in many of its productions, including DAMES AT SEA (an excerpt of which was included in The Royal Gala Performance in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales), and most recently she appeared as Ginger Mercer in the musical TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS. The most recent plays Sally has directed at The Mill are ALL FOR MARY, WHO KILLED SANTA CLAUS, INSIDE JOB, A FOOT IN THE DOOR and POOLS PARADISE. Sally enjoys a career outside of The Mill and has played leading parts in the BBC series LATE EXPECTATIONS and LAURA AND DISORDER in which she played Wendy Craig's daughter-in-law. Other TV appearances include: DON'T WAIT UP, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES, BRUSHSTROKES & MULBERRY. Sally directed the National Tour of PASTIMES, starring Rosemary Leach and William Gaunt and also directed BAREFOOT IN THE PARK by Neil Simon at the Jermyn Street Theatre in the West End. Sally recently appeared in TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS, at the King's Head, London.