Theatre review: The Real Thing at the Festival Theatre, Malvern (until Saturday).

THAT Tom Conti chap is so infuriating! He's such a brilliantly gifted actor, and so much at ease on stage he hardly appears to be in his actual working environment.

Evidence in point is his role as Henry, allegedly the smartest, sharpest and most wickedly witty playwright of his generation, a role that he slips into like a pair of comfy old slippers.

This is a love story with humour and Tom Stoppard's excellently crafted comedy might also have us referring to him as the smartest, sharpest etc.

It was easy to forget the snow and the cold outside as the sexual interest in this tale of writing, marriage, and of course infedility, raised the temperature.

Mr Conti's performance and professionalism was superbly supported by fellow cast members, but in particular Nina Young, who plays the fun-loving and frothy friend's wife, Annie, who he falls for.

It's witty, absorbing and entertaining, and certainly thought provoking. AW