It's entertainment, Jim, but not as we know it...

Sojourned at the Little Theatre in the pleasant Regency city of Bath this evening, dear diary.

To remark that the Little Theatre is, its nomenclature notwithstanding, not a theatre but a venue for the projection of recorded moving images, would tax the mind of a simpleton. To elaborate that on this occasion the cinema was serving the purpose of transmission of live images from our great National Theatre in the capital city of London, would incite the choleric into prolonged and exasperated protestation.

The event in question was a performance by actors and actresses of the highest quality of a play of the greatest sensibility: LONDON ASSURANCE by an Irish genius of unfamiliar familial antecedence, Dion Boucicault.

Written in 1841, this production pitted the wit of hunt follower Lady Gay Spanker (Fiona Shaw) against the floppedy-doppedy foppery of ageing dandy Sir Harcourt Courtly (played by the thespian Simon Russell Beale). And a merry battery of japes and jests perpetrated by a large supporting cast, including the vibrating vagaries of Mr Richard Briers in the role of Mr Adolphus Spanker were hugely enjoyed by all, including my three companions.

To complete a memorable evening, I encountered this wandering troupe in Green Street on walking home through the city centre. They were, for coppers in the hat, providing entertainment of a different ilk to the nicotine addicted and aimless visitors congregated outside a tavern of ilk repute.

Morris dancing with intent is now a criminal act, though one exceedingly difficult to prosecute unless caught in the act, as carrying a handkerchief ('going equipped') and wearing whites ('On my way to a cricket match, officer') are both dual-use technologies. All bar one succeeded in hiding their faces on this occasion; a little digital magic will aid the unfortunate exception in avoiding having his collar felt by the Peelers.