The Mystery of Irma Vep

The Lyceum is not a theatre strongly associated with silliness, and therefore the completely bonkers nature of its current show – a co-production with Perth's Horsecross – may come as a surprise to some regulars.

A loving homage to gothic horror tales of a bygone era, The Mystery of Irma Vep is the most famous work of Charles Ludlam, a flamboyant New Yorker who was a contemporary of Andy Warhol and founded the city's Ridiculous Theatrical Company.

A riotous two-hander, it borrows the plot of du Maurier's Rebecca and is littered with allusions to other works, although familiarity with these is by no means crucial as they have been skilfully woven into a uniquely daft plot involving countless supernatural twists and turns.

Andy Gray and Steven McNicoll make a terrific team, between them playing some eight characters of both genders. Part of the fun is the extraordinary speed of the costume changes required to make each cue, with lines frequently delivered from backstage as wigs, hats and fake breasts are flung on and off.

McNicoll is excellent in each of his roles, including Egyptologist and man of the house Lord Edgar and the brilliantly observed Irish housemaid Jane. But while Gray is fabulous as simpering actress Lady Enid, his male characters are frequently incomprehensible. This is a real shame, and hopefully something that can be rectified during the course of the run.

There are a scattering of nods and winks to the audience – including a fraught scene in which Lady Enid demands to speak to swineherd Nicodemus (also played by Andy Gray), only to be told increasingly firmly that it 'won't be possible' – but the play crucially retains enough respect for its own conventions to keep audiences chuckling along to the end.