The Rose Theatre has come up trumps with its new in-house production of Noël Coward's classic Hay Fever.

Director Stephen Unwin has got the fast-paced nature of Coward and his comedy spot on, keeping the characters moving and the audience enthralled.

Set in the 1920s, the Bliss's are a family of Bohemian's who infuriate each other at the same time as not being able to do without one-an-other.

Each invites a guest for the weekend (much to the consternation of the huffy maid) and insist they will go against their usual nature and be polite to everyone but that soon goes out the window.

The visitors are made to feel like fools as they are humiliated, abused, ignored and left completely windswept by their hosts - before eventually slipping out unnoticed while the family argue amongst themselves for the umpteenth time.

The utterly flawless and comic performances from the actors are a joy to behold and immerse you completely in the characters.

Celia Imrie is the star name and leaves you in no doubt to her quality, revelling in the role of melodramic and self-involved retired actress Judith Bliss.

Adrian Lukis, whose comic timing is nothing short of superb, and Alexandra Gilbreath threaten to steal the show as a well-to-do diplomat completely lost by the Bliss's rudeness and the predatory Myra Arundel who gets far more than she expected.

The future bodes well for professional debutants Georgia Maguire and Holly Jones who seemed completely at home on stage.

If you like Coward then this is a definite must-see and if you don't know him then it is a great introduction to this brilliance.