THE first thing you notice about the set for the RSC's latest production of Twelfth Night is a massive carpet which dominates the stage.

And the company has served up a real magic carpet ride of a show with this delightfully entertaining version.

Shakespeare is believed to have written Twelfth Night in 1601 and 400 years later it is still wonderfully fresh.

The plot revolves around a case of mistaken identity with shipwrecked siblings Sebastian and Viola, who each believe the other to be dead.

Viola disguises herself as a man and soon becomes embroiled in a romantic tangle.

But Twelfth Night boasts some of Shakespeare's finest comic moments and it is these comic twists which really bring the play to life.

At the heart of the comedy is the fool Feste, played wonderfully by Mark Hadfield, and the drunken pair of Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek.

Barry Stanton's Sir Toby would give Father Jack of Channel 4's Father Ted a run for his money in the heavy drinking stakes.

His plotting against Malvolio also leads to one of the highlights of the play.

Malvolio is tricked into believing he can win the love of his mistress Olivia by smiling a lot and wearing yellow garters.

Guy Henry, who plays Malvolio, had the audience in stitches when he wears the yellow garments in the mistaken belief that this is the perfect way to win Olivia's heart.

In the end boy (Sebastian) gets girl (Olivia), while girl dressed as boy (Viola) also gets boy - the duke Orsino.

Set in Edwardian England, this is a wonderful production which sees you leaving the theatre with a smile on your face. AW.