Based on a short story by Chekhov, ‘Romance With A Double Bass’ is great fun. Smychkov, a lowly musician with pretensions of artistry, meets a Russian princess in rather inauspicious circumstances – after a dip in the river, their clothes are stolen by a convenient thief; farcical action then surrounds their attempt to slip back into the palace without being caught by princes, maestros or footmen. At 45 minutes long, this is a high-energy romp through Chekhov’s work, and at times laugh-out-loud funny. However, it’s also a rather crowded and confused play. With up to six characters inhabiting the tiny stage at times – some for no discernible reason – the set-pieces become messy and unpolished, leaving an amusing, but not hugely memorable, show behind.

theSpaces at Surgeons Hall, 26 – 27 Aug, 2.10pm (2.55pm), £5.00 – £6.00, fpp293.
tw rating 3/5
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