The story of Nell Gwynn, London’s first superstar actress, mistress to merry King Charles and sometime orange-seller is well-known. Like any celebrity, her life is spin and legend, with more tall tales, wild stories, and très bon mots than will fit into any one play, though this one makes a spirited attempt.

The action trips merrily between the rehearsal rooms of the King’s company, where Paul Clifford channels the irritable charm of an elder statesman actor bringing gravitas to a romcom, and the wild and outrageous royal court where Clare Denton , Matilda Morrisey and Kate Morris are fabulous, furious representatives of King Charles II’s many mistresses. As the ladies fling witticisms at each other, Nell stamps on; epitome of the Restoration roaring girl, she is always ready with a song, a sharp one-liner, and blazing confidence.

Costumes are suitably and competitively flamboyant, crawling with flowers and frothing with bows. Backstage at the theatre, Ian Nutt sparkles and fumes as Edward Kynaston, last of the handsome boys playing female parts. Use of the wings and direct address draw the audience pleasingly into the action, while occasional lines nods to the Globe, where the show premiered, to current events, to the local town, to the artifice of performance itself.

Jordan Bisché is fun as Ned Spigget and Helen Taylor is hilarious as stagehand, wardrobe and mistress-of-all-trades (except acting) Nancy. Kate Morris blazes with delicious fury as Queen Catherine. And always, at the heart, Nell; her easy charm and sublime self-confidence ripple out in bawdy songs, cheeky costumes and a swiftly sliding wit that darts sparrow-swift from quirks and jokes to deep, genuine emotion. Always aware of the fragility of her social position, but never letting this pause the action, Layla Katib deftly captures the comic contradictions of Nell’s unique and extraordinary life.