Review of ‘Cash On Delivery’: “Poorly executed account shows capital problems”

The Mill at Sonning hosts the latest revival of Michael Cooney’s 1997 farce. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show to let us know if this tender return manages to hit the jackpot.

This was supposed to be funny. It really wasn’t — not that the idea isn’t promising, but I was expecting something slightly more entertaining, other than a tired comedy of errors where no joke lands and no slapstick stunt amuses. Cash On Delivery has returned to the stage through the opening of The Mill’s 2026 season. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yielded a particularly profitable experience.

It’s not like a 1990s farce is a bad idea to resuscitate. Some comedies age beautifully, and there’s enough potential in a premise revolving around an unemployed middle-class man defrauding the system through multiple scams and fabricated personas. It is also a story audiences could identify with now more than ever, given the soaring costs of living. Yet, apart from that minimal connection, the piece is unlikely to spark any interest — let alone maintain it for the rest of the performance.

The plot’s problems do not stem from its predictability. There is as much as we can ask from a satire involving a swindler who struggles not to get caught. Yet, despite the protagonist’s unmatched ability to cook the books, the text doesn’t come off quite as well-baked.

It’s the classic concept of humorous misunderstandings. An insurance officer arrives at Norman’s house to check on his alleged gout episode. Everything seems to go fine until some other unexpected visitors join the party, and Norman’s schemes are at risk of being uncovered. He and his tenant must pretend to be different people so the truth isn’t exposed. Thankfully, they can rely on their competence — to unroll mayhem, that is.

It’s an unmatched opportunity for deliciously absurd situations. Sadly, although they are still absurd, the flavour is rather dull. Most of the twists, skits, and punchlines are extremely predictable. And even putting that flaw aside, they were hardly good options to go for.

For the most part, they lack wit, irony, and even the necessary instinct to be just droll. Not every comedy needs to be high-brow smart, but they must always display intelligence, especially when they intend to be ridiculously stupid. It’s not like this one is dumb, though. Instead, it’s just incredibly boring, unengaging, and barely memorable.

The cast contributes significantly to its diminished appeal. There is no chemistry or flair in any rendition, most of which look detached from each other. Despite the material’s hyperbolic requirements, the performances feel lethargic and artificial. None of them shows proper timing or natural jest. And in the end, they all push too hard for something that is just not there.

We can always enjoy a jolly good meal at Sonning. And in this case, that’s the only thing that should entice patrons to visit the venue. Cash On Delivery doesn’t tick enough cheque-points, neither as an effective farce nor simply an adequate narrative, with no other side of the coin to play to their benefit. Overall, its tedious and uninspired execution is plagued by issues, and there are just as many notes one can give over the course of a review. Those are my two cents.

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All pictures credit to Carla Joy Evans.

Cash On Delivery plays at The Mill at Sonning until 4 April. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara