Many moons ago (pun intended), in the 1950s, 1960s 1970s, many an UK amateur theatre group would certainly have a few Jean Anouilh plays and Eugene Ionescu plays in their play calendars and professionally Peter Brook was out there in his brave new theatre landscape changing world with his book The Empty Space. On stages nationwide all was changing; kitchen sink dramas and a new wave of working class theatre were replacing posh drawing room comedies and Howard Brenton’s Romans In Britain was one of the 1980s shockers yet to come. The theatre works of Sarah Kane and Edward Bond continued to shake up the status quo.

However, no such controversial misbehaving would be glimpsed in Peter Brook’s original 1950 production of Ring Round The Moon at The Globe Theatre in London. It was pure innocent fun with a dash of moral and social commentary tossed in.

Christopher Fry’s 1950’s English adaptation of Anouilh’s French language play, Invitation To The Castle, commissioned by Peter Brook, became Ring Round The Moon and three decades later still clung on in its whimsical way as a popular theatre entertainment then quietly slipped away for a time when such forms of comedy were seen by some as twee ‘gossamer thin’ theatrical fare. A few professional revivals have popped up with well-known leads even as recently as 2008 and locally, back in 1977, The Lace Market Theatre performed the play directed by Max Bromley. Bromley briefly appears this week as a character named Messerschmann.

So, here, at the Lace Market Theatre in Nottingham, in June 2025, we are whisked away to a glorious 1950s society ball. It’s a satirical play concerning twin brothers, Hugo and Frederic. (David Field as both). Romantic entanglements surround them on the eve of the ball.. Heartless and manipulative Hugo invents a scheme to disrupt his brother’s engagement to a wealthy socialite by introducing Isabelle, (Fiona Bumann) an impoverished dancer as a pretend guest. Unexpected twists and turns lead to resolutions that challenge the characters’ perceptions of themselves and the others in their rarified circles. The play explores love, deception and social class and touches upon the social hierarchy of the time, particularly the disparity between the wealthy and the working class. It has a delightful feel similar to a Restoration comedy.

The Lace Market Theatre production is keenly directed by Peter Konowalik with assistance from Polis Loizou. Orla McMahon choreographs. The stylish set design is by Nik Hedges. Lighting design is by Esther Warren and sound design is by Aaron Connelly. Production imagery is by Grace Eden. Costumes are sourced chiefly through The Lace Market Theatre Wardrobe department.

David Field plays a cracking part as each of the temprementally different twins and manages to be both hilarious and sympathetic juggling the twins’ contrasting personalities. At one magical point in the action he even appears to be seen in two places at the same time! Baumann gives her Isabelle a great deal of quiet humour, human warmth and slowly revealed intellect and maturity.

Back in the LMT 1977 production actress Amanda Hodgson played Isabelle but now finds herself very ably cast as the wheelchair bound Madame Desmortes a sage old lady who acts as our perceptive guide to the relationships and outcomes in the play and does so very wittily. Hodgson’s performance is one of the highlights of this very comical play.

In a recent radio interview the director Peter Konowalik has suggested his production of Ring Round The Moon as having ‘a pot pourri of different styles’ which certainly keeps the audience on their toes and keeps them smiling throughout a slightly convoluted plot. Much thought has clearly been given to the atmospheres of the play and music has been especially chosen to suit every change of scene. The ball gowns are a visual treat and worn with much grace by their wearers. The ladies look to the ‘manior’ born in them.

This Ring Round The Moon has a strong hard-working cast of fourteen local actors with not a weak link amongst them and for those unsure you can be reassured by this reviewer of an entertaining night out with this most excellent production running until Saturday 28th June.