The Mill at Sonning keeps its loyal audience happy, in the main, on a diet of well-crafted comedy interspersed with the occasional thriller. It departs from the pattern, however, in its excellent new production of The Heiress, Ruth and Augustus Goetz's 1947 adaptation of Henry James's novel Washington Square (though it has to be said that the play is not without welcome shafts of wit and, indeed, elements of mystery).

This is a welcome revival, under the practised hand of director Anthony Valentine, of a piece that was once a staple for amateur dramatic societies but is now rarely seen. Many will be familiar with the story, either from the novel or from the 1949 film version - a vehicle for Olivia de Havilland - also scripted by the Goetzes. Though they should still derive rich enjoyment from the play, they will not be quite so lucky as newcomers to the tale who will surely be utterly gripped by the twists and turns of the plot and the shifting perceptions of who is a goodie and who a baddie.

The focus of the story - the heiress - is Catherine Sloper (Emily Raymond), the only child of a rich and fashionable doctor (Gary Raymond - yes, father of Emily) who has never forgiven her for being the cause of death-in-childbirth of his wife. He is a domestic tyrant where she is concerned, constantly making disadvantageous comparisons in the matter of her looks and social graces with those of his paragon of a wife. When a young man comes a-courting, therefore, Dr Sloper is naturally suspicious of his motives - a fortune hunter, to be sure.

It hardly helps that Morris Townsend has no fortune of his own, though possessed of a considerable eager charm (which Damien Lyne perfectly suggests in his performance). But while Catherine quickly falls under his spell, father remains implacably opposed to the match. Fortunately for the lovers, however, they can rely on the connivance of Dr Sloper's sister, a rather silly woman presented in all her garrulous romanticism by the Mill's artistic director Sally Hughes. With so many other commitments, Ms Hughes rarely reveals her acting skills these days; this performance shows what we are missing.

Other first-class performances include those of Susan Skipper as Townsend's dignified, if downtrodden, sister and Nelly Harker as Catherine's twittering cousin Marian. Sonning 'lad' Jonathan Niton - a recent drama school graduate - also does fine work as Marian's fiancé Arthur, who is responsible for his hard-up relation Morris's introduction into the Sloper household.

This very enjoyable, good-looking production - design Dinah England, costumes Jane Kidd - can be seen until March 29. For tickets (which include dinner) call 0118 969 800 (wwwmillatsonning.com).