Raoul and his friend Esteban are determined their children will marry each other, but Raoul’s daughter, Adrienne, and Esteban’s son both love other people. Raoul’s former mistress, the Marquise Eloise, arrives unexpectedly to add further confusion to an already complex situation.

Noel Coward’s relatively unknown comedy combines genuine tension with his more familiar comical wit. It’s a surprising but delightful combination, particularly when performed to this standard. Katy Bringloe demonstrated real aptitude for both comic and dramatic genres in a beautifully understated performance as demure Adrienne, while Neil Brookes maintained excellent characterisation, range of emotions and comic timing as her devout yet miserable widower father. Brookes provided an ideal foil to Maggie Rose’s outstanding Eloise.

Stunning costumes and a lovely chateau set completed the beautiful aesthetics.

Anne Waggott