Director Gregory Doran and actor Alex Hassell memorably presented Prince Harry’s riotous youth with the roguish old knight Falstaff in Henry IV. Now he’s under the microscope on the hottest of hot seats, the throne. A process leavened by the introduction of some worthy and valid humour . . . Hassell’s performance too is nigh miraculous. It ranges from isolated, tense fixation as he affects the authority he strives to build – voice and movement full of edgy introversion, to assured soldierly bonhomie as success crowns his efforts.

As Volpone, Henry Goodman is in his element. Energetic and jocular he takes great joy in his tempestuous life and every twist of his schemes. He confides winningly to the audience, lapses into a delightful cod Italian accent with matching gestures to impersonate a fake medicine salesman, and instantly ages thirty years every time the security cameras spy an approaching visitor. . . overall mastery imaginatively served by a first rate production and a leading performance that will go down in theatre history.