TO understand the sexual subtext of Albert Herring, you have to read one of the books on Britten published since his death. Whether William Relton, director of the RSAMD's enjoyable production has done so is unclear, but he has found his own surprising solution to Albert's personal problems. This must be the first production to imply that Albert is a half-caste - something which would have had as much effect on him in prim East Anglia as his

suppressed homosexuality.

To what extent so radical a rethink is deliberate, and to what extend fortuitous, it certainly brings a fresh piquancy to a work as rich in ambiguity as any other by Britten. Andee-Louise Hypolite rises to the role of Albert's mum with great gusto, playing the character as a magnificent scold and adding high clarity of diction as a side benefit.

But Saturday's was a keenly articulated performance altogether, even if some of the voices, including that of Hamish Brown's Albert, were on the light side. Yet Brown's tight, neat singing suited his button-up conception of the role, making his final emancipation seem by no means a fait accompli.

Britten's caricatures, of the Loxford townsfolk are vividly realised, with Sarah Estill's Lady Billows and Nathaniel Webster's unctuous vicar outstanding. All the portrayals are supported to a nicety by Timothy Dean's conducting, filled with loving detail and innuendo. Though Evelyn Barbour's discretely updated decor makes the shop look a bit too big, the scene changes are brought about with merciful quietness, enabling the important interludes to make their point. Performances tonight, Wednesday and Friday.