I square danced for three hours last night.

The degradation of the torch worldwide— it had to be snuffed out more than once to protect it from protesters—even provoked angry Chinese students to mobilise “150 strong and energetic runners” to defend it in Australia, raising the spectre of violence.

So it's not surprising that Terry McCabe's theatrically assured, combustibly comic staging is superior to Borealis Theatre's revival two months ago.

Circe's venomed flagon embruted less than doth the Lamia's wine, Than Comus' cup more perilous to sup-- As snakes are worse than swine.