RIGSBY is resurrected – along with the other three characters as played in the television sitcom that was itself an adaptation from a stage play.

The sequence comes full circle in this funny, live theatre reprise of the 1970s series, with a cast of four acting as the originals, pleasing to those old enough to remember the TV comedy and surely sufficiently oddball to delight younger audience members.

Stephen Chapman emulates perfectly Leonard Rossiter’s lecherous landlord Rigsby, all jittery and jerky movement and barely suppressed paranoia, presiding over the peeling decay of a seedy attic flat he has connived to double let to two students.

Amanda Hadingue breathlessly does over again Frances de la Tour as Miss Jones, palpitating and passionate, living out her life like the heroine of a Hollywood B-movie conceived via the pages of a Mills and Boon romance.

A moon-faced Paul Morse encapsulates Richard Beckinsale’s sweet charm as innocent medical student Alan, contrasted by the suave self-confidence of Cornelius Macarthy as African “student prince” Philip, previously played by Don Warrington, now directing the play.

Comedy revolves around social, sexual and racial tensions – humour concerning the latter seems gentler than in the original, but since Philip is cleverer, better looking, successful with women and culturally superior in every way, the jokes are invariably on the others, especially as he is always one step ahead in manipulating the plot.

Playwright Eric Chappell’s dialogue is packed with brilliantlywitty one-liners and the action has moments of superb farce – particularly hilarious the scene of Rigsby’s planned seduction of Miss Jones. Fortified by strong relaxant pills from Alan, an alleged stick of love wood from the African plains and a bottle of wine, his advances descend into supremely-timed comical misadventure. Highly recommended.