STAGE REVIEW: Twelfth Night - at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, until February 24, 2018.

SETTING Shakespeare’s riveting romantic comedy in the late Victorian era, around the 1890s, proved to be a delightful decision by director Christopher Luscombe which virtually worked every step of the way, or rather turn of the wheel!

Several scenes were set at a railway station, with steam billowing around, and joyfully - instead of staying on the main track - this production headed off along the hidden beauties that used to be provided by Britain’s once numerous but now long lost branch lines.

This ensured Luscombe could use all the strength and wiles of this ever popular play.

The 'tracks' took us along a route which once again provided a gender switch, rivalry and jealousy, splendid spots of scheming and skulduggery and even had time to jauntily head off to the pleasures of a Victorian music hall.

All that was missing was an impromptu appearance by the one and only Leonard Sachs, the master of ceremonies of that old television programme, The Good Old Days, which featured the halcyon period of the music hall.

Sach’s was best known for his irascible, over-the-top elaboration and certainly erudite introductions of the performers.

Not quite over the top for Twelfth Night, but heading that way, was Simon Higlett’s excellent set or rather its variety.

These were something to behold with the production making the most of all the gadgetry and size of the Royal Shakespeare’s stage as fountains and furniture rose from the depths, and the opulence of Orsino’s and Olivia’s homes slipped forwards silently and effortlessly from the darkness at the rear.

It must have punched a pretty huge dent in the RSC’s set budget, but it was worth it and also worth the effort of struggling through rush-hour traffic as it ensured the opportunity to see Ade Edmonson’s magnificent Malvolio on his RSC debut. It provided a steady scaling of the summit and once there he launched into moments of sadness, madness and mirth, due much to the catchy and lively music provided by Nigel Hess.

Perhaps a little of the delicateness Shakespeare intended is shunted into the background, but hardly surprising with all the Victorian references poured salaciously into the pot.

The big screen success of the friendship forged between Queen Victoria and an Indian attendant, Abdul Karim, gets further treatment here, in slightly different vein, with Kara Tointon ensuring Olivia, both pursuer and pursued lover, is regal elegance with a polished performance. No Abdul, but she has Feste (Beruce Khan), as her munshi-cum-secretary, who is taken into her confidence much to Malvolio’s chagrin.

And there was further quality throughout with great fun provided by John Hodgkinson’s take on the ubiquitous and flatulent Sir Toby Belch and an outstanding Sir Andrew Aguecheek, his over-the-top drinking partner, provided by Michael Cochrane. They could be booked any time for a double act at the Palace of Varieties in Leeds.

Meanwhile Nicholas Bishop’s Orsino was suitably decadent and the casting of Dinita Gohil as the male-disguised Viola, a servant in the house, ensured another RSC debut of star quality. Esh Alladi is her twin Sebastian, with both believing the other had been drowned in a shipwreck - and they are the keys to unlocking the romance.

But it’s Edmondson who leads the way. A comic-actor if ever there was, with a face and features that can capture all emotions. A green and yellow mop hat and bright yellow stockings are donned after falling hook, line and sinker for the trickery of the ‘love letter’ left by fellow staff members helped create a memorably madcap moment with a bouncy song and dance. Surely we’ll see more of him in future productions at Stratford.

This version of Shakespeare’s tale of unrequited love was uproarious and hilarious yet it was still capable of being heart-breaking. Twelfth Night’s alternative title is What You Will and all concerned with this production have more or less done what they will with it and ensured it has worked on all levels.

It’s well worth buying a first class ticket for this route, though a return would be preferable. The journey is two hours and 20 minutes but it definitely appeared the vast majority of a full house would have been quite happy to have been railroaded along for another hour or so!