Until Saturday April 26, Theatre Royal Bath.

BY 21st century standards, 18th century comedy can seem be a little laboured, but the central joke in Goldsmith's enduring romp is timeless.

A London suitor on his way to visit Mr Hardcastle and his daughter in their Midland home is deceived by Hardcastle's mischievous stepson into believing the house is an inn and he treats his host as the innkeeper.

Charles Marlow, the suitor and son of Hardcastle's best friend is also rendered totally inarticulate in the presence of women of quality, but is eloquent with barmaids.

So his intended, Kate, pretends to be one of the servants and thus woos Marlow.

There is confusion aplenty with robust performances from Liza Goddard as Mrs Hardcastle, mother of the prankster Tony Lumkin.

Her dense Midlands accent was an inspired device and her total disarray in the final scene hilarious.

Colin Baker is warmly larger than life as Mr Hardcastle. Jonathan Broadbent indulges in wonderful physical comedy as Lumpkin.

Dorothea Myer-Bennett and Matthew Douglas create terrific chemistry as the main romantic subjects with Matthew Burgess and Annie Hemingway as Hastins and Constance, whose liaison is a sub plot, far from overshadowed.

The floor of the set undulates disconcertingly and for no apparent reason.

It looked as if it should have been in a seafaring drama.

Jo Bayne

12:20pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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