Happy birthday to me... yes April 12th usually signifies my launch onto an unsuspecting public and this year was no different. Thank you for all who sent me birthday cards, texts and e-mails... there were some noticeable absentees. No names no packdrill (no Guy Smith).Anyway had a fab surprise tonight when Owen lead me on a circular route to the Comedy Theatre to see the 1960s French farce BOEING BOEING. I couldn't understand why this was being revived when it was announced - especially as it was being directed by Matthew Warchus and the cast included such heavy-hitters as Frances de la Tour, Mark Rylance and Roger Allam - in a boulevard comedy from the 1960s which was turned into a Jerry Lewis/Tony Curtis film - like, what gives? Well what gives is a masterclass in how to stage a classic farce - not a form I particularly warm to.

1960s Paris, Bernard (Allam), a successful architect, has a swanky flat in Paris and a love life to match, he's engaged simultaneously to three air stewardesses who provide an ever-changing variety of fun thanks to their rigid work timetables. When an old schoolfriend appears, the wide-eyed and shy Robert (Rylance), Bernard happily shows his plan in operation with the departure of American Gloria (Tamzin Outhwaite) at breakfast and the arrival at lunch of Alitalia's Gabriella (Daisy Beaumont). As his plans are helped by his sardonic and sceptical housekeeper Berthe (de la Tour) what can possibly go wrong?

Yes you guessed.... thanks to delays and weather conditions all three mistresses turn up at the flat one after the other and the hapless Robert is press-ganged into the escalating comedy of errors - particularly when he is attracted to the Teutonic Gretchen (Michelle Gomez). Believe me it plays better than it reads.

Tightly directed by Warchus and with eye-popping design by Rob Howell, the production just shows that what could have been hackneyed in other hands is a comic gem when entrusted to a focused cast of actors. Mark Rylance is a riot, almost Stan Laurel-like at times in his baffled movements and facial expressions - horror, joy and confusion chasing themselves across his face at any given time. His panicked improvisations when confronted by yet another angry female are a joy. Frances de la Tour once again gives a masterclass in comic timing which is pure genius. Each line mined for it's comic potential, each word weighed up for just the right emphasis. Rylance and de la Tour share a scene together where she toys coquettishly with him which is the funniest thing I have seen on stage for ages.

The three stewardesses are a formidable trio - no dumb dollybirds these - and indeed it is the women who get exactly what they want at the end of the show. They are played marvellously by Tamsin Outhwaite as Gloria from TWA and Sally Beaumont as Gabriella from Alitalia while Michelle Gomez as Gretchen from Lufthansa turns in one of the most outrageous comic performances I think I have ever seen. Gimlet-eyed and with the cheekbones of death you cannot take your eyes off her on stage. As good as Roger Allam is as Bernard, the script does not afford him as many moments to shine as his co-stars.

Thank God Owen booked this week to see it - I've just seen that Frances de la Tour leaves the show on Saturday to be replaced by Patricia Hodge.