Another triumph for Richmond Theatre, this time with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s revival of Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife.

By rights this century-old comedy on marriage should look tired, dated, mannered and irrelevant. But not a bit of it as writer Laura Wade subtly enhances the script under Tamara Harvey’s pacy direction.

With Strictly winner and EastEnders star Kara Tointon as Constance, and Tim Delap as her straying husband,  both pictured right, not to mention Philip Rham playing Bentley the butler, below, it still feels fresh as a daisy.

But the joy of this two-hour between-the-wars tale of infidelity and unexpected consequences is the number of excellent female roles; far more than most other plays of this era.

With Amy Vicary-Smith playing Constance’s sis, Sara Crowe as mother and Gloria Onitiri as the ‘other woman’, it’s a drama driven forward by strong female characters.

On press night, due to an absence, understudy Sam Flint played Mortimer, with Jules Brown – who should have been in that role – stepping up to play Bernard; a key component in the love triangle within a love triangle.

Yes the setting is all a bit old-fashioned, with the butler shuttling back and forward from a waiting cabbie, and everyone getting exercised about cigarette cases and Italian furniture, but this is an immensely enjoyable romp with plenty of laughs, and original music from Jamie Cullum.

It closes on Valentine’s Day. Box office: 0333 009 6690

Pics: Mihaela Bodlovic