THE show must go on - that motto of theatreland - is never better demonstrated than in Ronald Harwood's The Dresser.

Neither Hitler's blitzing of London nor the leading man's ill health is going to prevent the staging of King Lear - the play within this play - from going ahead.

Against the backdrop of this wartime-set comedy-drama, strong wills abound backstage, with Julian Glover, as Sir - the bombastic head of the rundown theatre troupe - suffering a crisis of confidence about treading the boards as Lear.

The Shakespearean strand extends out into the play outside the play, with Nicholas Lyndhurst as Norman - The Dresser - on the shoulder of Sir - much like Iago to Othello.

Lyndhurst is ideally cast in the title role, a slightly malevolent character in the background, acidic of tongue and a picture of prissiness.

He has real chemistry with Glover - sometimes an overpowering bully, at others a tearful coward - and between them and a strong supporting cast, the mood swings from comedy to darker themes ease along seamlessly.

With the right people speaking the lines, Harwood's dialogue can be fully savoured, particularly with the timing of the delivery never missing a beat.

This production of The Dresser is what theatre is all about.

The Dresser is at the Everyman in Cheltenham until Saturday.

Review by Peter McMillan