Teaming Peter Cook, Geraldine MacEwen, and Clive Revill, this short play by John Osborne is fun, sharp, and blessed with spot-on performances. Revill and MacEwen have quite a dull marriage, with off-screen son Gerald occupying most of their thoughts - Cook is Revill's fellow dentist (NHS while Revill is private), but what's he doing in Revill's bedroom with MacEwen?
The story rapidly becomes great fun as Cook shares his grand passion - for Sir Walter Raleigh - with MacEwen (who's obviously got other things on her mind!). Timed and played to perfection, this is a light confection but engaging and providing a showcase for the talented Cook in the days before he squandered his talent away. And who would have thought of Miss Marple as a sex symbol?