Castle Hill Players’ production of Abe Burrows’ play is a classic comedy of mishaps and lies resulting in mayhem and confusion – and it’s a hoot. The play is adapted from the French Farce Fleur de cactus by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Gredy, with the setting changed from Paris to late-1960s New York. The 1969 film adaptation is also well known and starred Ingrid Bergman and Walter Matthau, with Goldie Hawn making her big-screen debut (and winning an Academy Award) as Toni.

Stephen Snars’ excellent direction ensures the story opens with some fast-paced action to set the scene and continues in this vein for the entire time. Dr. Julian Winston, D.D.S., played with much gusto by Blake Michael Paish, is a rather immoral but good-humoured con man when it comes to women. After hours he is having an affair with Toni (Antoinette) Simmons, played with suitable innocence but also some guile by Daisy Alexis, who is a 21-year-old thing working at the L.P. Record Shop in Greenwich Village. His secretary-assistant, Stephanie Dickinson, played by Margareta Moir who has an excellent range of character traits,  most efficiently handles Dr. Winston’s needs during his working hours.

Dr Julian does not have a wife and three children, but Toni has loved him for the past year with that belief and would forgive anything but him lying. He is willing to do and say anything to keep her, including that he will get a divorce and marry her. The complications begin and pile one upon another when Toni demands to meet his non-existent wife. Stephanie is coerced into playing the part of the wife, but all does not go smoothly.

Added to the central plot are various side stories all adding to the humour, chaos, and complexity of relationships, until by interval there appears to be a web too messy to untie. There is Toni’s next door neighbour Igor Sullivan, played with abounding energy by Lachlan Armstrong who is also in love with Toni. Mrs Durant, played with patience and perseverance by Penny Johnson, is a long-suffering patient of Julian’s. Harvey Greenfield, played with suitable sleaze by Ben Freeman, is a long-time friend of Julian’s who expects free service and his girlfriend, who is often perplexed by the goings on, is played by Anthea Brown. Ben Wheeler plays Arturo Sanchez, a diplomat and patient of Julian’s who attempts to become romantically involved with Stephanie. Adding atmosphere is Anna Wepper who plays a music lover in the record store.

Characters show unexpected sides of themselves as fantasy temporarily becomes reality and even the bristly cactus that Stephanie keeps on her desk, finally flowers.

Several audience members were heard to chat about the authenticity of the set and costume, (costume design by Annette Snars) with comments like “I remember having/wearing…” The set design by Stephen Snars and Paul Sztelma is very clever with the dental office transforming into a record shop and nightclub. Sound design by Bernard Teuben also takes us to the 60s and lighting design by Sean Churchward adds to the flavour of the times.

For a fun, highly entertaining, night out take yourselves and your friends to The Pavilion Theatre, Doran Drive Castle Hill, before this production ends on 14 October.