Much spirited to-ing and fro-ing as the Bold and Saucy Theatre Company sets the scene for another evening of Shakespeare's fun and confusion, writes Donald Fathers.

Playing in the beautiful Wadham gardens, this company romps through the first act and are clearly in top gear.

Georgina Roberts, playing Katherina, has a great time flaying family and friends with her powerful and incredibly varied voice. She dominates the action, as she should, her characterisation full of surprises. Her ineffectual father Baptista, devoid of all parenting skills has created a ravishingly beautiful monster.

With the arrival of Petruchio, a sort of marital economic migrant, Kate meets a matching will. David Hollet has a ball in this part.Tall, rangy and well able to spot a meal ticket, he sets about breaking Kate's will. Sparks fly, as does footwear as head to head they battle for supremacy. It truly is a no-holds-barred scrap with Petruchio winning the initial battle of the wills. But does he win the war?

While the tale is centred on the Kate v Petruchio match, there's plenty going on in other courts. Bianca, the youngest daughter has to be married off. No problem here, plenty of competition for the hand of the winsome Charlotte Windmill playing Bianca. Her suitors, true and false, provide some good comic moments in their over enthusiastic courting endeavours.

I was much struck by the expressive face and so clear voice brought to the production by Kate Russell-Smith. She plays Tranio, fixing and faking and always taking the story forward at a great pace. Adrian-Jon Barry has a similar task in his many roles. This is a good acting performance, spoilt by some poor costume detail.

Director for this production, Kevin Hosier, will be well pleased with the night's work. The playing space is uncluttered, the actors being called upon to conjure the settings by the strength of their playing. They all delivered, and will doubtless deliver more as the run gets into its stride.

In his director's notes, Mr Hosier agonises about the chauvinistic stance of the text and the possible offence that can be taken from the tale. It is hard to believe that in recent years, politically correct idiocy has caused this

entertaining play to be called into question. In this production, Bold and Saucy restore Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew to its rightful place. It's a fun tale, told here with great skill and vigour. In saying this I'm not recommending the text as a marriage guidance handout, though I do most strongly recommend the production which continues until August 4.

A cautionary note! - take a warm wrap for the second half, as the pace of the play hots up, so the temperature in the garden drops.