UNHERALDED, but not unsung, a bright new musical has just slipped into

the Haymarket Theatre, London, from the Queen's, Hornchurch. It's called

Lust, to which the Haymarket management have added the words circa 1661,

lest it be mistaken for another sort of show entirely.

For here is a musical version of Wycherley's gamey, licentious

Restoration comedy, The Country Wife, adapted by all four of the Heather

brothers. You may remember their rock 'n' roll mini-saga, A Slice of

Saturday Night, that did well some years ago. Lust has better tunes,

better rhymes, more fun, and variety -- and Denis Lawson as a highly

athletic sexual acrobat invited into the best bed chambers in town. He's

no threat, you see, having lost his tackle during illness. Except, of

course, that he hasn't.

Lawson's virtuoso turn, all singing, all dancing and all everything

else is complemented by Paul Leonard's feisty performance as his doctor

friend, Quack. A quartet of lusty ladies led by Judith Paris has a merry

old time, finally turning the tables on our hero, condemning him to a

life of enforced sexual servitude.

Bob Carlton's lively production, aided by Irving Davies's choreography

makes Lust a show to enjoy. A hilarious laughing duet is performed

behind the shivering closed curtains of a four-poster by Mr Lawson and

the buxom Sophie Aldred.

Helen Hobson is a sweet-voiced heroine and Julian Curry leads a strong

cast who combine excellent singing voices with suitable Restoration

style.