Review - See How They Run at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, until Saturday.

ALL that was missing from this most traditional of British comedies was a nun or two on the run! Not that they were needed as there was plenty of fun with prancing parsons, vaulting vicars, a madcap maid and a bumbling bishop to boot.

Even the village's staid spinster was forced to let her hair down in this stamina-sapping, two-hour, hilarious high octane offering.

The action doesn't flag, nor do the cast or the laughs, as they race from one mistaken identiy, to a misunderstanding, and to another which has this classic wartime comedy fairly careering along to its hectic conclusion.

It's unfair to single out particular performances as this was wholly a great team effort but Jo Stone Fewings, who has county connections, caught the eye as the soldier and former actor friend of vicar's wife Penelope Toop (Hattie Morahan). And it was her previous life on stage which led to most of the mirthful mix-ups. While Natalie Grady, who was 'Ida the incompetent' - the maid - was deliciously daft.

Philip King's play was the forerunner of the wonderful Whitehall farces - providing the catalyst for other much loved British comedies such as the Carry On films and Dad's Army - and there is a hint of Warmington-on-Sea in the script.

It's frantic, it's fun, and there's a great chase scene when there's even a dog on stage. So if you want an evening out that won't challenge the brain cells but will severely test laugh lines and smile sinews then this is the one to see.

AJW