A couple of clowns present the first modern novel, which everyone knows but few have read. It works perfectly: Cervantes created Don Quixote as a figure of fun and his companion Sancho Panzo as a droll commentator. So why not red noses, a guitar as a horse and a donkey played by a violin? Why should the audience not assist Quixote’s mad knightly self-flagellation with rotten tomatoes? Yet the show’s great success is that it embraces much more than physical clowning, with verbal comedy, astute topical references, musical parody and more. Underlying it all, it unobtrusively offers illuminating commentary on the great work itself. It’s warm-hearted, clever and very funny. Catch this professional and accomplished show whilst it’s here.

Assembly George Square Studios, until 15 Aug.
tw rating 5/5 | [Alan Cranston]