Don’t Rock The Boat

‘Don’t Rock The Boat’, published by Warner Chappell, is not a farce, but a light comedy with realistic characters and topical relevances, combined with much laughter. ‘Don’t Rock The Boat’ has received several productions in the U.K. and around Europe.

The idyllic rural waters of the river Thames get decidedly choppy when a brash, self-made property developer with ulterior motives invites a local planning chairman, with his wife and teenage daughter, to holiday with his own family on board his houseboat, The Bunty.

However the two families clash in every possible way – background, lifestyle, domestic habits, business ethics, and sexual proclivities. The picturesque Bunty almost sinks beneath the waves in the turmoil of argument, incompatibility, business shenanigans and rampant libidos that surface over the weekend, and the encounter explores many modern business, political and domestic issues.

The scene is a converted barge, ‘The Bunty’ moored on a quiet stretch of the Thames somewhere in Berkshire. The boat is spacious and immaculate, having been expensively if rather flashily converted to make a holiday home.

Only the front two thirds can be seen, in cut-away section, viewed as from mid-stream with the river bank behind it. There is a small fore-deck with a gangplank to the bank beyond the boat, a ladder up onto the main roof-deck where are scattered a couple of sun mattresses or loungers, and steps down to the main saloon.

The saloon is centre-stage, comfortably, if too cosily furnished, with chintzy soft furnishings, and much brass, teak and nautical embellishments about the place.  It is lit by circular brass port-holes looking out onto the bank at rear. A collapsible dining table is up-stage, surrounded on two sides by built-in cushioned seating. All this converts into a double bunk when required.

Next to this, a small galley, with sink, cooker, fridge, etc is built in, beside which is an upstage bulkhead door to a passage-way leading to the rest of the boat. This includes a visible part of the guest bedroom showing the door from the passageway and double bunk.

There are a couple of easy chairs downstage, and various boating magazines and books on sailing are in evidence around the place.

“Robin Hawdon has scored an instant success with his hilarious play Don”t Rock The Boat, which discusses many family and business problems and aspirations in a beautifully crafted play… The comedy never flagged.” – The Stage

…A slick and pithy examination of family morality and business ethics, which sparkles effortlessly with humour and cruises along at a good rate of knots. The laughs come in copious helpings… an undoubted hit which deserves success, and if the audience reaction was anything to go by will certainly achieve it” – Surrey Advertiser

“Hawdon lets the mayhem unfold at a carefully controlled pace, milking the audience for every last laugh… the script is littered with memorable lines and the odd throw-away comment on contemporary society (“anybody can do anything these days with a credit card, a gun, and a condom”). Hawdon has scored a notable first with a comedy about planning!” – Farnham Herald