THE only Christmassy thing about Jeeves Takes Charge, the marvellously entertaining show at Bath Theatre Royal’s Ustinov Studio until 4th January, is the nickname of the writer … Plum.

A selection of the beloved PG Wodehouse stories of Bertie Wooster and his ever-dependable butler, Jeeves, have been adapted by James Duke, Edward Duke and the show’s director Hugh Wooldridge, and are astonishingly brought to life by Sam Harrison. He takes on 22 roles in the two-hour show, each with its own voice, gait and facial expressions.

The clever set, designed by Tim Shortall, manages the changes of location, and the journeys between them, with the same subtle charm that infuses the stories.

Sam Harrison has the arch bombast of the entitled, folded in with the gauche charm of the preposterous Bertie, as well as the all-knowing patience of the inventive Jeeves. Then of course there is the battalion of aunts, the crumbling uncles, the domineering heiress fiancees and a host of schoolgirls.

And of course, a curtain call by a solo performer has to include a mach 5 run through of everyone we have met during the evening.

It is a hilarious, clever and beautifully observed joy, and just the thing if you think you have outgrown the delights of the traditional pantomime.

GP-W

Photographs by Craig Fuller