Marc Camoletti’s hugely successful 1960 play ‘Boeing-Boeing’ is the epitome of the farce genre. The plot is simple; Bernard has three fiancées – all work on different airlines – he deviously keeps them all ignorant of each other by arranging their visits to his Paris apartment very precisely. When an old school friend, Robert, turns up out of the blue, confusion reigns as Bernard’s ‘timetable’ goes into meltdown and chaos ensues.

Andrew Beckett’s Mondrian-inspired set design is so very pleasing and somehow manages to incorporate a pair of double doors with six other single doors on the small stage.

Thomas Willshire plays Bernard, all swagger and self-confidence at the start, visibly wilting throughout as his plans go awry and the fiancées start turning up at the same time. It is a wonderful performance. As friend Robert, who becomes embroiled in the deceptions, Mark Laverty uses his physical acting skills to the full; expertly squeezing out every possible laugh. Sarah Dearlove’s Bertha, Bernard’s maid, is spot on; grumpily tolerating her boss’s shenanigans, she nails the sharp retort and the caustic aside.

The three women in Bernard’s life; decked out in the colours of the airline they work for, are brilliantly played. As the brash, sexual Gloria, the American, Rosie Edwards is wonderfully seductive and uses her limbs to splendid comic effect. Julia Main gives Gabriella a full dose of Italian passion with cracking mood swings. Polly Smith instils Gretchen (from Germany) with some sublime heel clicking, no-nonsense comedy; you don’t want to mess with her. Three incredibly strong performances.

You need an ensemble working in perfect harmony for farce to succeed and that is exactly what you get here.

Director Robert McWhir builds the action gradually, but effectively and the pace doesn’t let up for one moment, he draws out every ounce of comedy from the ludicrous plot.

It is worth bearing in mind that at the Summer Play Festival, the rehearsal time for the productions is just five days. To achieve this level of performance in that time is quite remarkable. If you haven’t seen ‘Boeing-Boeing’ before, get your boarding pass as soon as you can and get on the flight!

The play runs until 8 July; to book tickets visit www.manorpavilion.com. Next week is the start of an Alan Ayckbourn trilogy; the first of which is ‘Game Plan’ from 10-15 July.