See How They Run- Theatre Royal

This farce by Phillip King debuted in 1945 and is based on mistaken identities, a vicarage which is besieged by an escaped Nazi prisoner-of-war, a visiting bishop and a stand-in priest, who all, not surprisingly, turn up at the same time.

Having seen a few revivals, I usually find them dated and unfunny but I have to congratulate Ian Masters for directing this witty, madcap, fast-paced romp.

The cast includes Frazier Hines, Michael Sharvell-Martin and Helen Jackells, who played Miss Skillon, a straight-laced churchgoer, who became very inebriated with hilarious consequences and was in love with Ian Swann’s Reverend Toop.

Guy Siner of ‘Allo, ‘Allo! fame, also starred but for me Harriet Usher was the one that held it all together. As Ida the maid, she played the common blonde, who saw everything, but could say nothing.

It was spellbinding to watch the hapless antics and the audience certainly showed their appreciation by exercising their laughter muscles.