Our evening at the (always lovely) Watermill began with actor Charlotte Bate taking to the stage, smiling as she assesses the audience in front of her. She introduces us to Sheridan's Bath (the play is set in 1775) and entreats we forget our outside woes (she manages to stop herself emitting the dreadful word that is plaguing our politics) and to instead focus on this story of love. But oh how this piece devilishly plays with relevant conflicts. Conflicts between the young and old, money and love, urban and rural are all prominent features of the mechanisms of Sheridan's plot. While it is easy to forget the fraught politics of the day, the production gains some well-earned chortles at the reflections of today in the love story between Lydia Languish and Jack Absolute, and the trouble this causes.

The crux of the issue for our star-crossed lovers is that Lydia plans to elope with the penniless Ensign Beverley, while her guardian, Mrs Malaprop has betrothed her to Jack, a wealthy Captain. Yet Beverley and Jack are the same person, a ploy by the Captain to woo Lydia and fulfill her desire of a purely romantic love affair. Over the course of a day, events spiral out of his control and led to a dramatic finale.

A game cast fit the Restoration Era comedy well, managing to keep the pace up, preventing the production from being bogged down by the confusion, double bluffs and lies that are the hallmarks of Sheridan's work. The lovers that head up the cast are exceedingly good. Emma Denly's Lydia is a tricky, fascinating prospect, with a keen skill when wielding a raised eyebrow, while Ncuti Gatwa's Jack is an exceedingly charming rogue, dominating every scene he is in. But the performance that lingers is Charlotte Bate, who is a sympathetically crafted Julia (cousin to Lydia). Bate is so good - you long for her to break free of the text and take charge of the play.

If I have an issue with The Rivals it is that the play feels overstretched; there is a smidge too much narrative repetition to proceedings. When you know where things are going it is hard to not want to prod things along to the resolution. But when the finale arrives, it is as silly and over-the-top as it needs to be and left me with a smile on my face as I braced for reality's return.

The Rivals is an enjoyable theatrical treat at the Watermill. A funny, talented cast is aided by a fabulous design from James Cotterill. The set maximises the intimate space of the theatre, while the costumes are gorgeous. But where the play stands out is in a trio of very good performances which makes this a fun evening for all.