THE French playwright of the belle epoque Georges Feydeau wrote around 60Šcomedies and you can't expect all of them to be smash hits. Where There's a Will (Le systeme Ribadier) is definitely of the middling variety.

It's a frothy souffle of a comedy that is always trying hard to rise. When it does, it is largely thanks to the over-energetic performances by the cast rather than the script adapted by Nicki Frei.

ŠBritish farce is, of course, all about innocents found in compromising situations, often in a cupboard with their trousers down. French farce is tougher stuff.ŠThere are hardly any innocents and everyone is at it hammer and tongs.

ŠIn this case it is married politician Ribadier (Charles Edwards) whose wife (Sara Stewart) is suspicious of his affairs and for good reason. Her first and now dead husband was a cheat and so is her present one.

ŠMeanwhile, one of her old admirers Thommereux (Tony Gardner) has arrives with plans to seduce her. The coachman and maid are also "at it".

ŠThe first act lays out all the plot lines to allow the second and third acts to develop the story and inject a few misunderstandings.

ŠTo be frank, there are not that many high comic moments, rather several faintly amusing events like the maid reappearing with fewer clothes each time.

ŠTony Gardner as the would-be lover goes well over the top with a lot of shouting and body twisting (think Basil Fawlty) while Charles Edwards as the husband almost twirls his moustache as a silent movie villain.

ŠDirected at a fast pace by Sir PeterŠHall for the English Touring Company, the show looks good with its one-set Art Nouveau reception room.ŠThe costumes are also a delight, Edwardian in look with lots of bosom clutching underwear.

ŠA middling Feydeau may be better than a top drawer comedy by any other writer. Just don't expect too many fireworks.Š

PHILIP KEY