A director at the Orange Tree Theatre will bring to life a 19th century French play by Georges Feydeau, one of the finest farceurs the world has ever seen, writes Amy Dyduch.

Translated into Sauce for the Goose, the title describes protagonist Pontagnac, who finds himself in a mess when he pursues his best friend’s wife.

The play is a farce – a comedy that aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity. A style of play which, director Sam Walters says, is difficult to master.

He says: “It is technical. In some way like pieces of machinery – you have to take them apart and put it all together. When you tell a joke, they only laugh at the punchline, but you have to set it all up. People sometimes think if it isn’t a serious play then it is easy to do, but that isn’t the case because if you don’t make people laugh then there is nothing else to enjoy.”

Sauce for the Goose encapsulates humour and pushes it through the awkward situations the characters find themselves involved with as a result of adultery, causing mayhem.

Sauce for the Goose; the Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, Richmond; December 19 to February 2; 2.30pm, 3pm, 7.45pm; £5 to £22; call 020 8940 3633, visit orangetreetheatre.co.uk.