Christopher Luscombe’s reworking of Arthur Wing Pinero’s Dandy Dick offered a feast of theatrical silliness to rival that supplied on the Aylesbury stage last September by One Man, Two Guvnors. Truth to tell, this rollicking Victorian farce proved to be even sillier than the National Theatre’s vehicle for the comic talents of James Corden and, from my seat in the stalls at least, considerably funnier. Though the title might suggest entertainment in improper style, the show gives us nothing remotely salacious. Dandy Dick, in fact, is the name of a racehorse whose success on the track is of considerable importance to the financial well-being of many characters we meet.

Among them is the upright Dean of St Marvell’s (Nicholas Le Provost, pictured). Though an avowed opponent of gambling, he is tempted into a secret flutter through the need to pay for urgent repairs to the cathedral spire. Principal agent in his moral downfall is his horse-mad sister Georgiana Tidman — a peach of a part for the comic talents of Patricia Hodge (pictured) — who owns half of Dandy Dick. The other half is the property of blustering baronet Sir Tristram Mardon (Michael Cochrane), a pal of the dean’s during their carefree days as Oxford undergraduates. The dean is the widowed father of two feisty daughters Salome (Florence Andrews) and Sheba (Jennifer Rhodes). They have pressing financial problems of their own after commissioning expensive costumes to attend a fancy dress ball, unknown to dad, with their military swains Major Tarver (Peter Sandys-Clarke) and Mr Darbey (Charles de Bromhead).

Adding to the comic confusion are the familiar farce figure of a savvy butler (John Arthur’s Blore), a large and jealous policeman (Matt Weyland) and his roly-poly missus (Rachel Lumberg), the former deanery cook.

The play is heading into the West End later this year and is highly recommended.