And so, Alan Ayckbourn’s trilogy ‘Damsels in Distress’ comes to a conclusion with the final ‘episode’, ‘Roleplay’.

Justin and Julie-Ann are organising a dinner party intended as an introduction to each other’s parents and the chance to announce their engagement. Things are not going to go to plan. The parents’ arrival is pre-empted by the appearance of dancer Paige Petite and her unhinged minder Micky; what follows is virtually pure farce, but with an edge.

Anton Tweedale offers such free-flowing direction and brings out so much comedy, not least of the physical kind, thus elevating the production.

As the play starts you soon realise the couple at the centre of the story are not compatible. Liv Koplick offers a wonderfully irritating Julie-Ann; highly strung and fussy and with a few pre-nuptial ideas which horrify her intended. Owen Landon’s tour-de-force as the relatively sane and well-meaning Justin is a masterclass of confusion, frustration and with a tremendous range of facial and bodily reactions.

Laura Mead’s exceptional performance as mouthy, but vulnerable Paige illustrates huge depth and breadth of skills and Dominic McChesney creates laughter from nearly every mono-syllabic line while wielding a pistol as the nutcase Micky. James Pellow has a gift of a role as Julie-Ann’s blunt, boring and bigoted father Derek – he has some of the best lines in the play. As Derek’s wife, Dee, Julia Main offers up another cracking characterisation; she is her daughter’s mother! If you ever want to see a great comedy drunk on stage, then watch Claire Louise Amias, as Justin’s mother, Arabella; this is as good as it gets. Splayed limbs and head wobbling continually, this is sublime comedy acting.

This is some of the best ensemble work I have ever seen and each member of the cast has laid out before audiences an example of their repertoire which is exemplary.

‘RolePlay’ is very funny and this production just goes to show that when theatre is working at its highest level, so much can be achieved in such a short time; at the Sidmouth Summer Season each play is rehearsed for just five days

Next week is the psychological thriller, ‘The Business of Murder’ by Richard Harris which runs from 31 July until 4 August; tickets are available at www.manorpavilion.com