REVIEW: A Mad World My Masters – at the Festival Theatre, Malvern, from Tuesday, March 24 to Saturday, March 28, 2015.

IT’S bawdy and barmy, even wacky and wonderful, and most certainly adopts the true concept of ‘and now for something completely different’.

There really is something Python-esque about this Jacobean comedy which gets underway at a fairly sedate pace before raging to a frenzied climax – and this could be taken as a considerably apt comment considering all the carry-ons throughout this two-and-a-half-hour romp dominated by sex, money and power.

Thomas Middleton’s 17th century classic – which has been bumped forward to 1950s Soho, has been edited and updated in parts, and is disgracefully delightful.

Anyone not knowing what to expect might feel their senses and sensibilities experiencing a little discomfort with much of the below the belt humour, but it really does try to do it all in the best possible taste. Well, it does to a degree, but it could easily have anyone ‘lust’ for words.

What can you expect though with such outlandish characters as the lecherous Sir Bounteous Peersucker – who is as rich as his name suggests, along with Sir Andrew Fondlewife, the Littledicks, and even a Penitent Brothel – who is not the sort of priest you might trust with the offertory box.

As we switch back and forth from the Flamingo jazz club, complete with its live music and super sultry singer (Linda John-Pierre), to Sir Bounteous’ residence and also several Soho homes, we come upon a dashing bachelor and his cronies in search of quick cash and good times.

Dick Follywit, played with real verve by Joe Bannister, and his two enjoyable mates Oboe (Lee Mengo) and Sponger (Michael Moreland), garner most of the laughs with their splendidly visual comedy and gags galore.

He is Follywit by name and nature – living on his wits and enduring plenty of folly as he seeks to ensure he lays his hands on his uncle’s inheritance, sooner rather than later. His attempted scams cause him to become a lord, a poor actor and even a high-class call girl, and he also encounters one of those with her eyes also set on cashing in!

Ian Redford is an admirably entertaining Peersucker, hamming it up splendidly, and he is surrounded by fine performances from a cast full of energy and clearly at ease with this bizarre tale.

Sean Foley, who has co-edited with Phil Porter, also directs. He’s remained quite faithful to the original and ensures all gallops along quite slickly with a dynamism that has innuendo and double-entendre slapped on with a trowel.

This UK tour by the English Touring Theatre continues into April visiting Truro, Bath, Darlington, Oxford and then concludes at London’s Barbican for a limited run.

Lewd it is, but if you are fairly broad-minded it’s also rollicking good fun.