COMEDY is a funny old business and farce particularly so. Or not, depending on your taste.

Ayckbourn was, during the 80s, the second most performed playwright in the world after Shakespeare and his comedy, middle class, middlebrow and middle England, obviously finds widespread resonance.

Flatspin, one of three pieces performed by his own company at Warwick Arts Centre, featured the usual misunderstandings, deceits and consequent chaos and was hugely enjoyed by a large audience.

The cast, particularly Alison Pargeter as Rosi Seymore, performed with gusto.

While filling in as a janitor at luxury apartments in London's Docklands, a handsome stranger calls at a flat where Pargeter is watering plants, and, taking her for its owner, persuades her to let him cook her a meal there.

Frustrated and with the promise of a night of passion, she goes along with the deception. So far, so good. But there's a twist. He is in fact part of an intelligence team waiting for a drugs courier.

Their operation has been jeopardised by her blundering and she must be persuaded into continuing the deceit.

At this point, the play and I largely parted company, amiable though it was, as a comedy of manners gave way to caricature and slapstick.

Good if you like this sort of thing.

PW