Moliere adapted it from Plautus, Heinrich von Kleist from Moliere, and now John Banville has further adapted it from von Kleist and transferred it to Wexford in 1798, during and just after the Battle of Vinegar Hill where Amphitryon (here General Ashburningham) is out putting down the rebels. In his absence, Jupiter decides to take a fancy to Alcmene (here Minna, Mrs Ashburningham) and, donning the General's physical likeness, comes down for a great night of passionate lovemaking while his messenger son Mercury dons the likeness of Souse, Ashburningham's put-upon servant, and stands guard outside the bedroom door. The real Souse returns from Vinegar Hill to tell Minna and his own wife Kitty that the battle is won and the General on his way home before Jupiter is finished playing, and the rest of the comedy is all about who is exactly whom and who did precisely what and when and where.
This Barabbas production, directed by Veronica Coburn, does not quite knock out all the fun that there is in this elegantly versified Irish version, but that might have been the result of a slow first night and some difficulties with the cast's enunciation and projection of their voices. It did not seem to have quite the sparkling inventiveness we have come to expect from these highly physical clowns, but it will probably get funnier as it settles into its run.
Paul Meade is the bewildered, upright and very English General, Mary his even more bewildered lovelorn Minna. Lynn Cahill as the sentimental and unknowing Kitty switches easily from her soft moments to some sharp interventions, and Raymond Keane is a very funny and extremely put-upon Souse. Mikel Murfi and Louis Lovett are the dei-ex-machina, as it were, with Murfi's Jupiter yearning for mortality and Lovett's Mercury emphatically preferring divinity. It's all good harmless fun, and a great relief at the end of what was sometimes a rather heavy festival.
Meanwhile, the text of John Banville's play was published on Thursday by Gallery Books, price £7.95, and it makes enjoyable reading.
Closes in Dublin tonight . To book phone 01-6772600. Touring in Wales next week and returns to Tralee, Clonmel, Tallaght, Cork, Galway, Longford and Kilkenny between November 2nd and December 6th