The National Theatre's production of The Magistrate by Pinero was sent bouncing round the world tonight and I was lucky enough to be in the Cameo to catch it.

As befits a farce the action was fast and furious and the acting highly physical.  It hovered deliciously on the edge of going over the top and every now and then did so joyously, but miraculously managed to retain reality and truthfulness throughout.

The plotting is very clever.  I loved bits where the audience realised what was coming just before the characters were allowed to. There's lots of witty Wildean dialogue and the production team have added snappy G&Slike patter songs which are delivered by an enchantingly imagined Victorian minstrel troupe.

It goes without saying that costumes, make-up, music, sound and lighting are all wonderful but the pièce de résistance is the set - an astonishing pop-up book whose pages unfold to deliver complete rooms.

By Jove it's great.