Sylvie is a
round-shouldered and slatternly village girl who helps prim-and-proper
Celia, the headmaster's wife, around the house. Devoid of self-esteem, poor
Sylvie is taken advantage of by her chauvinist gardener boyfriend, Lionel,
who constantly ticks her off for dressing like a "lollipop on legs" and
tells her she must "buck up her ideas" if she wants to keep up with him.
Taking Lionel
at his word, Sylvie sets about bettering herself. With the help of Toby the
schoolmaster and Celia, she takes lessons in deportment and reading, to get
her man. But doors open for Sylvie. Should she embrace her new-found life?
Or reject it and throw-in her lot with that virile handyman and become a
conventional village wife and mum?
A GARDEN FETE
is one of a series of plays about a group of suburbanites written under the
heading 'INTIMATE EXCHANGES'. The always brilliant Alan Ayckbourn, who never
fails to delight Mill audiences, gives us two technically dazzling
theatrical tricks in this funny and enjoyable story to surprise and enthral
us until the last intriguing moment.

Here are a few words: from Gordon Mitchell Social Secretary for the
Probus Club of Epsom
It was a delight to see all the Ewell Probus members gathered on a
sunny morning by Mongers Lane, Ewell.
Safely aboard our Banstead Coach we cruised via Epsom Station and
Ashtead onto the M25 andM4 and were soon picking up the cheery brown masked
faces on the Sonning Mill Theatre direction signs.
Soon the road became just a fraction wider that the coach and there
was a final dramatic hump-backed bridge before we arrived at the Mill.
We arrived early, so a little alcohol was enjoyed.
It was a balance between this and joining the queue for the ascent
up stairs to the dining room.
At least we got to know each other, and another group from Surbiton
Women’s Health and Beauty, before we got our buffet first course.
After this, things got a little bit more civilised, and eventually
we all made it in a relaxing and happy mood into our seats in the theatre.
The Alan Ayckbourn play was a delight.
A lovely script around a village Garden Fete, performed by only two
actors, taking various parts.
We felt a part of the Fete because of the intimacy of this small
theatre.