Directed by Peter Hall, and written by George Bernard Shaw as the last of his Plays Pleasant, You Never Can Tell treads a fine line between comedy and farce.
It certainly has all the hallmarks of farce, with families lost and found, highly unlikely coinicidences and confused identities.
But this comedy of manners, life, love and the war between the sexes is a sparkling and sophisticated piece of fun, with marriage being firmly put under the microscope.
Diana Quick and Edward Fox lead a fine cast which, added to Shaw's witty and funny script, beautifully delivered, makes for a remarkable evening.
Mrs Clandon (Quick) and her children are back in England after 18 years in exile, following the mothers' separation from her husband, and are living in a seaside hotel. She has never revealed who the father is, but now must do so after one of those unlikely coincidences brings them together.
But he is appalled by the way the children have been brought up and seeks legal advice to gain custody of them. To this rich mixture you must add Edward Fox's shambling and somewhat cynical waiter, a top QC with an interest in relatives and a dentist with love very much on his mind.
The action is played out against a nicely Edwardian set in which just a few props sum up the period.
Quick steals the show with her experience and a winning performance as the somewhat feisty and certainly feminist mother, and Sinead Matthews is pleasantly annoying as the dotty daughter Dolly.
This is excellent theatre. You will laugh a great deal and have a memorable night.
Running until Saturday, October 15, 2005.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article