WHAT a refreshing change to see a good old British farce entertaining a theatre filled of people from all walks of life and ages.

Business affairs, which ran at the Malvern Theatre, was full of double entendres, boob jokes. But with hardly a swear word in sight it homed in on a universal humour.

Not surprisingly it was penned by well-known funnymen Jeremy Lloyd, who co-wrote Are You Being Served, and John Chapman, whose writing credits include Happy Ever After.

Star line-up

There was also a star line-up as the cast boasted Ken Morley (Reg In Coronation Street), 'Allo 'Allo actors Gordon Kaye and Vicki Michelle and Carol Harrison of Eastenders fame.

I wasn't looking forward to Morley's performance as Reg Holdsworth is a difficult character to shake off.

However, he was one of the strongest characters and his overpowering presence was perfectly married with Kaye's precision and deadpan comic timing.

The play is set in a Westminster hotel when two businessmen hire two "ladies of the night" for their German business colleagues to clinch a major deal.

When the women cancel, their wives stand in and the real fun begins when the two real prostitutes turn up.

Michelle and Harrison's performances were also brilliant as they are wooed -- but not for long -- by viking helmet wearing Kurt and Sven.

Al the supporting actors deserve a round of applause as well -- I recommend you catch Business Affairs if it comes your way.

Review by ANNE-MARIE DARROCH