ALAN Ayckbourn’s early play, Relatively Speaking, which sees him stealing comedy from every twist of plot and turn of phrase, has you chuckling quietly or laughing out loud almost throughout.

D&M Productions’ presentation at the Warehouse Theatre last week had the pace and vivacity to give Ayckbourn’s early West End hit the quality revival it deserved.

After earnest and keen boyfriend Greg unexpectedly blurts an offer of marriage after a month’s acquaintance, young Ginny tells him she’s going to visit her parents to settle the matter.

In truth, Ginny’s travels to Buckinghamshire are to end it with her much older lover, Philip.

But Greg, hoping to ask her father for his daughter’s hand in marriage, gets there first – a hilarious chaos of cross-purpose dialogue and complex misunderstandings ensues.

Although the first act took time to build pace, the remainder of the play really shone under director Celia Crookes’ direction.

Philip (Dave Goodall) and Sheila’s (Maggie Goodall) quiet suburban marriage is clearly under strain and their gentle, sniping exchanges are sharp and witty and although Maggie Goodall’s Sheila appears blissfully unaware of the intricate complexities of the relationships around her she proves deliciously sharp and perspicacious in engineering the clever denouement.

Dave Goodall’s elegant, clever set (we have rightly come to expect such high standards now from Goodall) completed the overall polish and style of the show.

HELEN ROSE