DESPITE being written over a century ago, watching An Ideal Husband in the Theatre Royal Bath last night still felt as relevant as ever as it negotiated love, blackmail and politics.

Whether characters were exploring the morality behind the quest for power seen as politicians climb the career ladder or arguing over love and the classic battle of the sexes, it felt like the scenes could have come straight out of any modern drama.

This Rolls Royce of English comedies stars real-life father and son Edward Fox and Freddie Fox, Susan Hampshire, Nathaniel Parker, Frances Barber and Sally Bretton, in a new production of Oscar Wilde’s 1895 play. The show is directed by Jonathan Church, the artistic director of the Theatre Royal Bath’s Summer Seasons who described the comedy as his favourite Wilde play.

Sir Robert Chiltern is a promising politician, destined for the highest office, wealthy and adored by his wife. He is unquestionably an ideal husband. Until, that is, the enigmatic Mrs Cheveley appears in London with a damning secret from his past that could ruin both his career and his marriage.

The performance flew along with a fast pace that kept the audience glued to the stage as characters revealed themselves and the evil Mrs Cheveley was brilliant to watch as she wrapped the other characters around her little finger with a fantastic performance by Frances Barber.

The stand out performance came from Freddie Fox playing the flamboyant dandy Viscount Goring who keeps the action from becoming too bogged down in ethical contemplation and brings out the comic in any scene he is in. Viscount Goring’s father is played by Freddie’s real life father, triple BAFTA winner Edward Fox, who commanded the stage at every grumble about his incompetent and lazy son.

An Ideal Husband runs until Saturday 4th August as part of the Theatre Royal’s 2018 Summer Season, tickets from £27-£39.50.