IT’S been a while since I’ve had a good laugh at the theatre. I have sat straightfaced while all around me have shrieked and slapped their thighs at some smutbased so-called comedy, and I was beginning to think I had become a humourless crone.

Galloping to the rescue comes the Mischief Theatre Company with this absolutely priceless piece about an amateur dramatic society doing a murder mystery. It’s a play within a play, a similar idea to my all-time favourite, Noises Off.

It’s written, directed, scored and performed by Mischief ’s ridiculously talented people, and I enjoyed it so much I want to go and see it again tonight; its grateful audience emerged from the theatre still hiccupping with laughter and recounting their favourite bits.

It has a lot of favourite bits to choose from; I shan’t trouble you with the plot, but there are wonderfully comic performances from all concerned. Charlie Russell as Sandra/Florence Colleymoore, channelling Rik Mayall’s Flashman (God rest him). Nancy Wallinger as stage hand Annie, taking over the Florence role from an unconscious Sandra and becoming more overtly sexy with each passing moment.

Dave Hearn as Max/Cecil Haversham, mugging for the audience with a stagestruck beam, and Jonathan Sayer as Dennis/Perkins the butler with an improbable set of teeth. Given the space I could name everyone, for each one provided a gem of a performance.

I could go on and on, but space does not permit. If you only see one play this season, do make it this one.

  • Until Saturday. Box office: 01325-486555

​Sue Heath