Shakespeare knew the reason - love loves to make fools of us all and depicted well makes for excellent, ribald viewing.

A king and his three courtiers have forsworn women and life's pleasures to spend three years in study.

But guess what happens next: a princess and her ladies-in-waiting come calling and their plans are thrown into disarray.

Not much of a plot, but with each of director Gregory Doran's sketch-like scenes so perfectly formed and strung together like the twinkling glass leaves of the stage's pretty tree, the audience was hooked.

It is easy to see why the play was supposedly a hit with witty Elizabeth I, and perhaps she, like many of the women watching, would have enjoyed David Tennant's charming portrayal of a worldly rake made lovesick - full of comic timing, cheeky expressions and a smattering of easy audience interaction.

But someone who provoked guffaws from all and an applause after each stage-stealing performance was Joe Dixon as the hapless, sentimental, broken-English speaking Don Adriano de Armado - his name says it all.

As the plot untangles and love-sick hearts beat faster, the play descends into almost pantomime-like pageantry with dancing Russians, singing seasons and even a dancing bear taking the stage.

But it is a recipe that delights and amuses and makes the ending all the more magical.

There are some plays that are seen and forgotten, but this sensual feast of japery, music, word play and superb acting is not one of them. Holly Whitmill

Verdict: Witty, wonderful drama.