If anything can spearhead a major Terrence Rattigan revival, English Touring Theatre's sparkling production of French Without Tears is the show.

When the original production opened at the Criterion Theatre in 1936, it ran for three years without a break and it is not difficult to see why.

Sure, its rarefied world of Eton-educated toffs bound for a career in The Diplomatic no longer exists. But what are these bright young things if not a 1930s version of the modern day Gap Year Brigade - holiday crushes, money troubles and all?

Set at a Mediterranean crammer, it follows the fortunes of a group of men all in love with the same gel', the bewitching Diana Lake.

The key to ETT's sucess is the superlative casting. As the object of everybody's affection, Diana needs to be a knockout and, prancing around in her sailor boy bikini, Jenna Harrison is certainly that.

More importantly, she plays the part with all the guile it demands, cold and unapologetic in her teasing ways.

Hannah Yelland's plain-jane Jacqueline is the good girl in comparision and deserves to get the man.

Of the men competing for her affections, Hugh Skinner is a throughougly believable Kit and gets some great scenes with love rival Commander Rogers (Adam James) who, inevitably, becomes his best friend. Boys will be boys.

Veteran Terrence Hardiman delivers a nice comic turn as Monsieur Maingot, the teacher exasperated by these very Eee-nglish boys, but who is happy to give them a nudge-nudge wink-wink when it comes to women.

But the revelation of the piece is recent Bristol Old Vic graduate, Ben Mansfield, in his first professional role as the Hon Alan Howard.

Alan is the linchpin of the play and it was a daring move to cast a newcomer in the part. But with his tall, dark and handsome looks, and some wonderfully dry comic timing, Mansfield is one to watch - probably from your living room sofa in the BBC's next lavish period drama.

There are deeper issues here than love - Alan's yearning to write and his pacifist leanings at a time when Hitler is already casting a shadow over Europe.

But the overriding joy of the play it its jokes - less French Without Tears than French With Laughter - and you don't really need to know your étre from your avoir to get them.

French Without Tears runs at Richmond Theatre until Saturday, March 17. Call 0870 060 6651 or visit richmondtheatre.net.

Nancy Groves