As soon as I walk into the lovely, Georgian-style Howard Theatre, I am captivated by the set for Lady Windermere’s Fan. Some backstage magicians (otherwise known as Kieran Tam, Chris Lazenbatt and Tom Leung) seem to have conjured up a perfect facsimile of a 19th century drawing room, which later shifts seamlessly into a ballroom and a bachelor’s apartment. Such professional scenery would not look out of place at an ADC main show – at a college society performance, it is remarkable.

What is even more impressive is that the acting is not outdone by the set. The star of the show is the charismatic Helen Vella Taylor as Mrs Erlynne, the sophisticated femme fatale with a ‘past’, whose attempt to return to her old place in society almost ruins the marriage of Lord and Lady Windermere – until Mrs Erlynne discovers that she does have a heart after all. With her wonderful aristocratic drawl, Taylor moves flawlessly from biting wit to moments of genuine emotion. Equally versatile is Leo Benedict, who plays the part of Lord Darlington, the charming bachelor in love with Lady Windermere, with great panache and vivacity.

Lady Windermere herself is played by Chloe Booyens, and while her air of outraged silliness was a little histrionic at times, on the whole she gave a creditable performance, with her fresh-faced innocence providing the perfect foil for the more complex characters. Michael Morrison as the foolish Lord Augustus, and Yasmin Watson as the waspish Duchess of Berwick, were both riotously funny, while Jonathon Ben-Shaul enlivened the more serious role of Lord Windermere.

The costumes were of a similarly high standard, and had evidently been picked with care to suit the personality of each character. While the lighting was simple, background music was used with great success to add atmosphere to the play. Particularly effective was the moment when Mrs Erlynne first enters during Lady Windermere’s ball and the music stops dead while the guests all stare, amazed at Mrs Erlynne’s daringness. These little touches contribute to the success of the overall performance and are clear evidence of Katie Woods’ high quality direction.

Of course, it is hard to go wrong with an Oscar Wilde play, thanks to its mordant satire and endlessly quotable prose. However, the Downing Dramatic Society has undoubtedly worked extremely hard to bring out the nuances of Lady Windermere’s Fan, from sophisticated humour to genuine emotion to trenchant social commentary.

In the words of Lord Darlington: “it is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.” If the same is true of plays, then this production of Lady’s Winderemere’s Fan can only be described as charming. Polished, yet with a certain freshness, with casting, set, props, costumes and music all excellently judged, this entertaining performance will get anyone in the mood for May Week.