The art of comedy is, at its very basic level, to make us laugh. Farce adds further elements to the mix; freneticism being an example.

British farceur Ray Cooney throws everything he has at his 1983 play Run For Your Wife, and the results leave the audience in hysterics.

London cab driver John Smith is trying to keep his double marriage a secret, but nothing works smoothly when trying to be devious. Times have changed, as has the nature of comedy, therefore credit to director Jonathan Hunt for adapting inappropriate references and gags whilst keeping the laughs.

The role of John Smith is unremitting and, making his debut at the Sidmouth Play Festival, Tom Mann is perfect in the part; displaying cheeky chappy chirpiness which is endearing, making up (to a certain extent) for his ridiculous behaviour.

Heather Wilkins rages wonderfully and Molly Stewart (also new to the Festival) is beautifully icy cool. As the wronged wives they are a cracking duo!

Matthew Hartley is very funny as the neighbour Stanley Gardner, who creates even more havoc out of the chaos. Investigating the ‘disappearance’ of Smith is Jeremy Todd as DS Porterhouse from Streatham and Alfie French as DS Troughton from Wimbledon. Todd masterfully plays it straight and, as such, garners a multitude of laughs with expressions of bemusement and complete misinterpretation of events. French makes a tremendous impression on his debut at Sidmouth as the sharp-suited, self-confident detective with a range of facial expressions which are a gift for an actor. And, whirling on stage in a flurry of arm-waving and campery, Sam McInnerny almost steals the show with a cameo of lush proportions which brings the house down.

Jonathan Hunt steers the ship so expertly and gives the play so much momentum that, by the time the height of the madness is taking place, the audience is falling around all over the place.

Andrew Beckett has previous in designing sets which are two locations amalgamated into one and this stylish offering is spot-on, as ever.

This a hugely entertaining and very funny play and deserves the very favourable response it received on opening night.

The play runs until 19 August and tickets are available at www.manorpavilion.com.

Next week is the thriller Not Dead Enough by Peter James which runs from 21 until 26 August.