Nick Fisher’s first foray into stage plays, Basket Case, appropriately enough centres on the occupant of the said basket, Toby, an elderly family dog belonging to the sometime divorced couple Guy and Miranda who have to all intents and purposes moved on from their bitter uncoupling, but have they? Aided by the rather lovable and bumbling family vet who has been called to despatch poor Toby to that great kennel in the sky, and James, a jack-the-lad friend that every divorced man seems acquire along the way, act as bystanders in the couple’s wrangle over their past history, brought together again by Toby’s imminent demise.

Under normal conditions both subjects, divorce and a beloved pet’s final days would not be the subject of amusement but the play deals with both with a hearty and irreverent slant and manages to garner quite a few laughs along the way. Nigel Havers heads the cast as Guy and embodies the personality of stressed and much-hassled Mr Successful whose ambitious career and the pursuit of money has overtaken his life, his wife and family take second place to not only that but sport and of course a mistress or two. Christine Kavanagh is the yummy mummy who having raised her children and suffered the divorce is out to have her revenge in full.

Graham Seed as Martin, the old-fashioned family vet, and David Cardy as James the sports car driving, golf playing louche best friend make a wonderful double act. There is a great exchange between them when James decries the sport of fishing against golf and Martin gives him chapter and verse on vagaries of salmon fishing explaining why there can be too much water for salmon as well as too little - it’s very funny and obviously a testament to Nick Fisher’s fishing expertise.

The spats between Guy and Miranda are lively and Nigel Havers certainly gives it his all when to his chagrin he discovers Miranda has someone special in her life and he has the effrontery to be French and wear espadrilles (which Guy subsequently gives a thorough roasting in the Aga). Guy has always resented the Aga being at the centre of his designer home which although he moved out to start a new life with his mistress, he still has to foot the bills with much complaint; the clarion call of displaced husbands everywhere!

The play’s best is in the second half where all four actors really get put through their paces and some very energetic dialogue and activity takes place. Two things I wasn’t sure about; Toby - I think he should have been out of sight; referred to but never seen, as the stuffed version in the basket required a lot of suspension of disbelief, and a tad too much bad language; peppering the lines with expletives doesn’t necessarily make it funnier. However, a great night’s entertainment and well worth a visit.

Jacquie Vowles