Review - The Dresser at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, until Saturday.

THE show must go on... Hitler's Luftwaffe is overhead, the bombs are falling, but in the best theatrical tradition the troupers take to the stage and... the show goes on.

And this is certainly in the best of theatrical traditions.

The Dresser is Ronald Harwood's brilliant behind-the-scenes play about a theatrical company touring the works of Shakespeare in the war-torn Britain of 1941. He, above all, was perfectly placed to observe such goings-on as the inspiration for the play came from the years he served as Donald Wolfitt's dresser.

It's a drama that is incisive, witty, poignant, perceptive and at times hilarious.

Feelings of pity surface for the big stage star who, after playing Lear for hundreds of times, is struck with fear and trepidation. There is also a measure of contempt, but this is matched by a liberal lacing of compassion. And of course on stage he does have support through the secret 'love' of one or two close to him.

Nicholas Lyndhurst is the camp dresser, 'Norman', to Julian Glover's 'Sir'. Both are outstanding actors by reputation - and more than outstanding in these performances under the exceptional direction of Peter Hall.

Other good offerings too are scattered through the rest of a fine cast, including Col Farrell, who I eventually managed to place as Nasty Norris in the popular tv series, Porridge.

It's one of those nights at the theatre to savour. A real privilege to have been there. AW