Inspired silliness belies a smart script

PERFECT Nonsense is perfect end-of-year entertainment and because of these three astounding actors, also terrifically smart.

You don’t have to know the PG Wodehouse books and these muchloved characters even if it adds to the fun. All you have to do is gather a group of friends and make a night of it. You don’t even have to think, the trio on stage do that for you.

It’s like the title explains, perfect nonsense, and underline both words because the play is packed equally with both. Open your ears and watch every move or you will lose the odd reference or movement which extracts a constant giggle.

It’s the kind of script with performances chomping at the bit that has you smiling throughout and every so often, you will be slipping off your chair or folding double.

If you know your theatre actors, simply check the cast closely. Hopkins, a classical actor, can equally easily don the odd lampshade with a skirt, a hop, skip and a jump, and still have audiences gasping at the sheer audacity and brilliance of his skills on stage. It’s astonishing how someone can inhabit different characters and adopt accents at lightning speed, but that is part of the delight of this delicious confection.

Roxmouth plays Wooster with an appealing naiveté, a wink and a giggle to the audience whom he hoodwinks from the moment they catch their first glimpse. Yet another talent who seems to pull off everything he sets his mind to. But it is also his interplay with Jeeves that’s so endearing, from the acting to the character nods.

Fridjhon is a comic genius as he stomps, clatters and bangs his way across stage, in and out of doors, with dogs drawing him across the stage, stepping into giant-size shoes and playing hooky with wigs as if it’s what you do.

Knowing King would be designing, it was a certainty that the props and the set would become another character – or several, as is the case here. He has been impressive in previous designs and this one invites him to come out and play. He does so with chutzpah and imaginative madness that keeps the laughter rolling.

And finally, director Stead pulls it together with a rhythm that never loses pace. That’s important in these types of shows. If you don’t have them pumping from start to finish, it doesn’t matter who the actors are, it will fall flat.

But this is both perfect nonsense and actors playing their hearts out. Don’t miss out on the fun. It’s truly gloriously giddy.