Princess Ida is the latest production of Kennington and District Church Choirs, who have produced concert versions of Gilbert and Sullivan twice a year since 1979. The formula is simple: a 50-strong chorus in costume seated en masse behind the front row of principals, who, in extravagant costume, stand up for their entrances, and sing and parley with each other with gusto. The whole is undergirded by John Oxlade on piano and conducted by the choir's founder, Trevor Cowlett.

The result is riotous: there is plenty of highly spirited singing, acting and horseplay, and a good rapport evident between the principals. The story features an independent-minded princess, who rather than marry the prince she has been betrothed to since infancy, founds a university for women only, who have to swear to forsake men forever. She is besieged in her castle by her would-be father-in-law who has captured her father and three brothers, and her suitor and his two friends infiltrate the castle disguised as women to win her love. The end result is similar to, but somehow more satisfactory than, that of The Taming of the Shrew.

Sullivan's music is alternately lilting and stirring; the principals (members of the Oxford and Abingdon Operatic Societies) command the ear and eye. Sarah Leatherbarrow in the title role and Hannah Nye and Wendy Lewis as the professors have particularly sweet voices, and Andrew Moore is a wonderfully expressive Cyril, friend of the prince (warm-voiced Peter Wright). The father of the princess, King Gama (Dennis Osment), cuts a comically irascible figure, and the 'bad' King Hildebrand, Joe Haynes, is suitably majestic. The chorus' singing is clear, holding well together.

One distinguishing feature of all these concerts is that they have no admission charge, but Trevor Cowlett compères a charity collection in the interval. This, and the excellent music, gives results: £400 raised from a 50-strong audience: £8 each. Surely this speaks for itself. The last performance of Princess Ida is today in Kennington Methodist Church, Upper Road, at 7.30pm.