UK Theatre Network

Jeffrey Holland is best known for his comedy performances: from TV credits as Spike in Hi-De-Hi; You Rang M’Lord and Oh, Mr Beeching to, on stage,  Dad’s Army,  Run for Your Wife, Travels With My Aunt, ’Allo ‘Allo and Goon Again in which he recreated the Peter Sellers characters. Not to mention almost 40 seasons as pantomime dame!

So it is a surprise to see him playing a villain in the world premiere of Roger Mortimer-Smith’s thriller Guilty Secret.

I always admire The Mill for inviting the press along on the first night of any production, and for Jeffrey Holland to be taking on an unfamiliar lead in a world premiere deserves praise indeed, especially as he has such a wordy part in a play which piles bluff upon double bluff and ends up not at all like you’d expect.

Wordy is an understatement. During the first act Holland’s role as George, a cold, ruthless kidnapper, is practically a monologue. No surprise then that he fluffed a couple of lines, but then it was the first night, he was playing out of character, and it was quite a feat!

His performance is chilling, and in stark contrast to his sidekick Lennie, played convincingly by Neil Andrew, whose lack of ability to grasp what is going on provides more than a few laughs. Into the mix comes spoilt heiress Charlotte, whom George kidnaps, hoping for £5m from her business tycoon father. And Katie Beard looks and plays the part perfectly.

The start of the second act belongs to Philip Childs in another convincing performance as a detective – and another monologue, but though the plot is complicated, Anthony Valentine, the director and no mean actor himself, makes sure everything moves along at a cracking pace, culminating in a glorious climax.

Not to be forgotten is Dinah England’s splendid set and Matthew Biss’s lighting. The play is set in February in a lonely farmhouse which comes with loads of atmosphere, appropriate car lights and a view through the window which is so realistic that when the door was opened I could swear I felt the cold air rushing in.

Guilty Secret runs at The Mill at Sonning until 16 July. Box office: 0118 969 8000