Improvisation whiz kids Gonzo Moose tickled my ribs mightily at the Cornerstone Arts Centre in Didcot with their latest fun spoof, I’m an Aristocrat Get Me Out of Here! This time the company have created a hilarious retelling of The Scarlett Pimpernel, but as the mysterious hero of this quirky tale is called Le Grand Pois (leader of the resistance group Le Petit Pois!) clearly they are not taking their history too seriously. It is a sprightly tale of derring-do set against the backdrop of the French Revolutionary Terror — with the odd head (or other body part) being spliced off now and then.

Three highly talented artists bring to life a host of colourful characters in this very surreal show. Particularly pleasing was Lauren Silver’s dazzling Marie Antoinette, complete with a cheeky Essex girl accent and truly charming daftness, while Mark Conway is especially hilarious as Louis XVI and as the revolutionaries’ favourite artist — Jacques Louis David. The narrative of this fantastical show is strongly powered along by Jonathan Peck as the evil chief of the Secret Police — De Rien. He is equally as funny as the other cast members but his presence kind of makes sense of everything. A clever set design made this epic unfold splendidly at the bijou Cornerstone. Minimalist scaffolding converts from a palace, to a gaol, a carriage, a sailing ship and other locations, all within seconds — keeping the pacy action at top speed.

Weaving the whole enterprise together was tight, witty, and inventive direction from Abigail Anderson, who brought this lovable production to rip-roaring, giddy life.

There were songs and jokes — decapitations and sword fights. Love stories rubbed shoulders with political intrigue, while comedy both physical and verbal had the audience laughing all the way through. It’s a hoot — and you can catch it again at The Theatre, Chipping Norton, on May 10.