WHEN Greasy Spriggs is cornered, his criminal mind goes into overdrive.
The anti-hero of Eric Chappell's, Theft, takes no prisoners when it comes to manipulating his victims.
Roy Hudd takes on the role of Spriggs, the thief whose slippery manoeuvres would give an eel a swim for its money. It's a role previously played by the incomparable George Cole, and is a hard act to follow.
The rotund Roy Hudd invests his Spriggs with the cod humour of a goggle-eyed music hall artist.
His victims, both material and emotional, are John and Barbara Miles (Leslie Grantham and Joanna Van Gyseghem) who live in a remote cottage amid the trophies of conspicuous materialism. Or at least they did.
A Spriggs, trapped by the early return of his victims from a boozy dinner with friends, is a dangerous adversary.
There's no physical menace but his minute examination of the couple's possessions reveals a much more powerful weapon.
Anyone whose home has been burgled will empathise with the feeling of violation of private space and the immediate desire for revenge on the culprit.
The couple's pals, Trevor and Jenny (Peter Alexander and Sandra Payne) are all bravado and no bottle when it comes to tackling the thief.
But who is stealing what from whom? Who are the victims of temptation in many guises? Redistribution of wealth can take surprising forms.
Many of the jokes, and there are plenty, have been updated for this production but there's an old-fashioned air to the piece. Far from detracting from its appeal, it adds a reassuring note to a tale with a moral twist.
There are echoes of Chappell's Rigsby (Rising Damp) in the humour and Leslie Grantham can produce one of the best blank expressions in the business. And Joanna Van Gyseghem imbues Barbara with her accustomed style and excellent delivery.
"Where have we gone wrong?" is the impoverished Trevor and Jenny's cry. For Trevor, the "sort of man who wouldn't take yes for an answer", honesty may not be the best policy. For his pal John, who "has forgotten the answer", money may not be the root of all evil but he's not immune to its dangers.
Cleverly engineered, this vehicle for lighthearted amusement and mild moral outrage found an appreciative audience at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, this week.
Sandy Baker.