'While The Sun Shines' at the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond

Terence Rattigan's war-time comedy of manners, 'While The Sun Shines' is on at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond, cue problems with the District Line while we're trying to get out to Richmond. It always seems to happen when we visit the Orange Tree. I've seen quite a few Rattigan plays in the last decade or so and, while they're very old fashioned and often dated, I quite like them so this was a good opportunity to add another one to my list of his plays I've seen.

It's the tale of Bobby, a young sailor in the Second World War who's managed to get leave so he can marry his fiancé. Remember, of course, that this is Rattigan so Bobby isn't just any old sailor, he's an earl, the Earl of Harpenden to be precise, worth two million pounds and with three country estates.

Bobby's going to marry Lady Elizabeth who's come down from her WAF posting in Scotland. Bobby has rescued a drunken American soldier, Joe, from the street and offers him his plush apartment for his stay in London and arranges for him to hook up with a lady of Bobby's acquaintance, Mabel Crum. Lady Elizabeth turns up unexpectedly and Joe mistakes her for Mabel which makes Elizabeth wonder whether she's ready for marriage. All sorts of wrangles and mistakes follow which stretches out the day into the small hours of the wedding day, but what on earth can happen?

It's great fun and got laughs in all the right places from the largely older audience who easily got the jokes about spam (people told jokes about spam well before Monty Python). The play is set entirely in Bobby's apartment where everyone seems to end up, including Elizabeth's father (a duke and a general), a French lieutenant who fell for Elizabeth on the train journey form Scotland and, of course, the wonderful Mabel Crum.

Mabel is the best character in the play and gets most of the best lines. She's a secretary at the war ministry but is also man-hungry and delights in going out and enjoying herself, and that is how she's known Bobby for ages. She calls herself a trollop but in the best possible way. She has a heart of gold and a very modern view of love and relationships. She also has her own morals. Everyone should have a best friend in a Mabel Crum for some straight talking over a drink or two. Dorothea Myer-Bennett had the good fortune to be cast in the role and she milked it for all it was worth. Well done!

I must also give Michael Lumsden a mention since as soon as he came on I recognised him without knowing quite who he was. I've seen him at the Orange Tree before but it's his voice I recognised - he plays Alistair in 'The Archers'! That's how I knew the voice especially since he's been having a more high profile time in the series recently. He's got pompous old ass down to perfection in this play who gets deliciously conned by the clever Mabel at the end. Serves you right! I also quite liked Philip Labey as Bobby and John Hudson as Bobby's manservant.

Sadly, I left it late in the run to get tickets and the play ends tomorrow so I can't see it again. I think there are still a few tickets left for Saturday so if you haven't seen it and you fancy a laugh in Richmond, head on down to the Orange Tree.

'The Philanderer' at The Orange Tree Theatre

Last week we went to see the latest revival at the Orange Tree Theatre in the deepest, darkest suburbia of Richmond at the end of the District Line. It's 'The Philanderer' by a certain Mr George Bernard Shaw, a man renowned for fitting as many words as possible into any play. I'm always in two minds about Shaw - I ought to like him but there's always this little piece of dread in my heart whenever tickets are bought for any of his plays. I've seen a few of his over the years - the big beasts of 'Pygmalion' and 'Man and Superman' and some smaller versions such as 'Widowers Houses' at the Orange Tree a few years ago. I enjoyed these but there's still a little knot of fear.

It's the tale of a group of young people who are members of the progressive 'Ibsen Club' that wants to do away with 'manly men and womanly women' and treat people as people. Of course, emotions get in the way and our hero, the philandering philosophy professor, wants to marry one member (Grace) while another (Julia) professes her love and won't step aside. O dear, the problem is always people, of course. Gradually the extended families and fathers of each women are drawn into the discussions as well as a random doctor who ends up marrying Julia (to his later regret).

It's quite a fun play - surprisingly so, I must admit - and not really that dated. Some of the philosophical and theoretical arguments about gender are a bit odd from our 21st century perspective looking back at the 19th century but they rarely get in the way of enjoying the play. There's also an element of modern society that would probably benefit from being exposed to them. Placing the actors in modern dress helped, I think, but why the philanderer had to wear the same jacket and shirt as I was wearing in the audience is beyond me. My beard's better though.

Rupert Young was fun as the philanderer (but please stop tucking your shirt into your trousers throughout - that means your shirt is too short) and Helen Bradbury was suitably icy as the intellectual love interest. The flame-haired Dorothea Myer-Bennett was great as Julia, the clingy lover who doesn't want to let go and get's what she wants in the end (sort of). I saw her in 'The Merchant of Venice' last year at The Globe and was much impressed. Also a shout out to Michael Lumsden as Julia's befuddled dad, Colonel Craven (Michael is, of course, better known as Alistair Lloyd in 'The Archers').

The Orange Tree Theatre is doing something right to get us trekking out to Richmond so keep it up people!