It's a mouthful of a title - and it reflects the play's rather convoluted plot, which revolves around a barely-believable bunch of misfits with an assortment of dreams, aspirations and dark secrets, and there are a few smatterings of Elvis music in there, too - although not enough, probably, to satisfy passionate fans of the King.

The action revolves around single mother Josie, who has been working as a prostitute to support her two daughters, but as her 50th birthday arrives finds that her heart is no longer in it. One of the daughters, Brenda-Marie, is retarded ("I have a Syndrome," she announces, rather poignantly, at one point), while the other, Shelly-Louise, is missing . . . and I won't spoil the plot by revealing the truth about her. Add to the mix a cross-dressing dry cleaner, Lionel, and an obsessively superstitious cleaner, Martha, and you'll find yourself wondering where it's all heading.

It's left to Timothy Wong, the Chinese Elvis impersonator - who arrives as a birthday singing telegram - to sort out the myriad misunderstandings and inject a little order into the chaos. The outcome is both surprising and satisfying, and the extravagant tango (choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, and danced with irrepressible tongue-in-cheek glee by Maureen Lipman as Martha and Derek Hutchinson as Lionel) is worth the trip to the Playhouse alone.

As the dowdy, obsessive Martha, Maureen Lipman provides much of the humour, prompting gales of laughter every time she carries out her compulsive 'door-knocking' routine, and turning an ordinary line into a comic one with a mere inflexion. But she is well-matched in the comedy stakes by Paul Courtenay Hyu as the Chinese Elvis, whose exaggerated hip movements and outlandish costumes, together with some very creditable singing, make this one of the most memorable portrayals of the evening.

Lesley Dunlop gives a strong and convincing performance as Josie, while Michelle Tate treads a finely balanced line between humour and poignancy as the retarded daughter, Brenda-Marie, who dreams of ice skating stardom and who, despite her immaturity, often shows greater insight than anyone else.

This is a strange, complex but ultimately uplifting play, which is funny, touching and intriguing in equal measures. Be prepared to laugh, to be moved and to tap your feet - and to come away with Elvis tunes still ringing in your head.

Martha, Josie and the Chinese Elvis continues at the Oxford Playhouse until tomorrow. Box office: 01865 305305.