THE Brown Paper Bag Theatre Company’s highly entertaining run of William Wycherley’s Classic Restoration comedy, "The Country Wife", came to a close on Saturday, January 28, in front of a packed house at Crediton Arts Centre.

The 17th century play, in which the anti-hero, Harry Horner, pretends impotency so that jealous husbands will trust him with their wives, is a very funny satire on that period’s attitudes to sex, love and marriage.

It also has much to say about how lies, repeated enough, can over-ride the truth; a very contemporary theme!

Beautifully costumed by Lindy Yellowlees and her team, and with music of the time arranged by Jack Robson, the play saw some really bravura performances from the cast, most notably from Laurence Honeysett as Horner, and Frank Kelsall as Pinchwife, the jealous husband of a country wife, played by Ruth Arnell.

The infamous "china" scene featuring Laurence, Jenny Start, Pat Laver, Hilary Hamilton and Beth Robson and the outrageously funny "fake priest" scene with Petrina Brealy, Stu Wight, Tom Blaen and Lesley Wild were guaranteed crowd pleasers all through the run.

Delighted debutant director, Julian Wild, said: "You know, we might just have created something quite special there!"

Alan Quick