Lend Me a Tenor, Castle Players, Lytchett Matravers Village Hll

WOULD an opera audience really mistake an imposter for a world-renowned star?

Maybe not, but the premise that they do certainly makes for a highly entertaining evening, particularly when mixed with a liberal dose of mistaken identities, numerous doors to rush in and out of and a set of characters who wouldn't know the meaning of the word "dull".

When famous Italian tenor Tito Merelli (played with impressively Latin temperament and no mean voice by Dave Clements) is unable to perform in a prestigious gala, impresario Henry Saunders (very well acted by Steve Wakeford, albeit with a wavering American accent) allows his assistant, Max (an excellent, vocally secure Alan Colclough) to take his place - and no-one notices, not even the women who are involved with one or both men.

Full marks to the company for a great 1930s-style set, to director Ann Lloyd for such a well-paced production and to the cast, which also includes superb performances from Nicola Dorrell (Maggie), Linsey O'Neill (Maria) and Louise Isaacs (Diana). But the biggest bouquets of all must go to those two "opera stars" who certainly convinced me that they were the real thing.