SET in the garden flat of a Victorian house in Prestwich this play, a typical, British farce is a non-stop series of banging doors, misunderstanding, sexual innuendo and ultimately utter chaos.

Written by veteran stage writer Anthony Marriott, along with Bob Grant, best known as the toothy conductor in the 70s comedy, On the Buses, the on-stage performances of the characters reduced the Tyldesley audience to tears of laughter.

When his wife Elizabeth runs off with and marries ex-adjutant Ronald (a lovely spivvy performance from TLT stalwart David Hadcroft), the Major finds himself short of cash. In an attempt to solve his money problems, the Major decides to rent the basement flat of his wife's house - to two tenants simultaneously!

Jill works in Brussels during the week, using the flat at weekends, while Philip the junior barrister, (a sound debut from Rufus Bennett) lives in it during the week. The only problem is that Julie and Philip aren't party to the arrangement. The Major solves that little problem by swapping their belongings around at the beginning and end of? the week.

A perfect ruse thinks the Major, although it's blatantly obvious to the audience that he's just asking for trouble.

The spanner is well and truly thrown into the works when Jill unexpectedly takes a week of work and returns just as Philip is arriving.

The comedy stems from the Major's efforts (a wonderful manic performance from the dashing Mike Rimmer) to keep the two apart.

As his lies become ever more ludicrous, the situation is further complicated by the arrival of Elizabeth and Ronald, especially when she lets the flat to a third tenant, Humphrey Bennett. And if that isn't complicated enough, the Major has to deal with the arrival of Humphrey's daughter, Brenda, and an agency call girl.

Although not a simple plot - I couldn't figure out whose clothes the Major was running around with half the time - I found it a bit predictable, a charge that can be levelled at much of what constitutes British farce. And first night nerves probably accounted for the frequent interruptions from the prompter.

But the rest of the audience lapped it up, and there was appreciative applause for all the cast from a well-entertained audience. Jennifer Bradbury

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