STAGE REVIEW: The Merry Wives of Windsor - at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until Saturday, September 22, 2018.

NOT so much Windsor but further east in the Home Counties - to maybe Chelmsford or Colchester, as Shakespeare’s memorable comedy unexpectedly heads into Essex territory.

It’s not quite TOWIE but certainly moving in that direction with a touch of that ‘Essex girl’ bling and brassiness as the cast dive into pool parties and beauty parlours made for scheming the downfall of one particular lecher.

Period and present play perfectly alongside each other in this sumptuous comedy in which director/composer Fiona Laird has cranked up the hugely enjoyable lighter moments.

It’s never been a boring play - after all there’s lust, deception and the eventual comeuppance of the wrong-doer, but Laird has played around with the content and certainly livened this and the proceedings on stage to another level.

It may not grab all of the Bard’s fans, those who might prefer his offerings as originally intended in traditional mode. But there’s no escaping the evidence that this slapstick show works well, particularly with the wonderful David Troughton at the centre of the action as the devilish and hugely rotund Sir John Falstaff.

Troughton’s portrayal of the blubber-bound oafish knight of the realm with a keen eye for the ladies and their wealth is first class as he once again reveals his is one of Britain’s finest actors.

Fine performances too from Rebecca Lacey as Mistress Page, and Beth Cordingley's Mistress Ford who aim for revenge after discovering Sir John is discovered lusting after them both having sent them identical love letters.

The ruse is they are lusting after him too! Cue their plot and the trap, or rather trio of traps, and then some truly memorable moments of comedy as the heavy drinking, sweaty knight seeks to flee a homecoming husband but is handicapped both by his weight and an overactive and unobliging huge codpiece… Ask no more!

Plenty of other outstanding performances too from a cast in which there are no weak links - almost all of them larger than life. Jonathan Cullen’s French Dr Caius, was in the best traditions of ‘Allo ‘Allo with his mangled English, and Ishia Bennison’s flighty busy-body Mistress Quickly was a joy. So too Vince Leigh’s long-haired, man-about-town Frank Ford - also determined to see Falstaff foiled.

It’s inspired, immensely entertaining and wonderfully watchable. At times it’s in the best of pantomime traditions and certainly as much fun with its audience participation - such as when the Welsh parson Sir Hugh Evans, delightfully played by David Acton, leads everyone in the theatre in a chorus of Bread of Heaven.

This up-to-date and energetic show is highly recommended. It’s innovative in its entirety and offers that wonderful moment when Falstaff escapes in a stinking ‘wheelie bin’ as opposed to a wicker basket in the original.

Now that is up-to-date. As with two servants asked to assist the escape who discuss the details in Polish.

So make sure you get there - fully spray tanned, with bouffant hair and tight leopard print leggings for the ladies - before this production closes on September 22 and transfers to the West End.