At first blush a cast including distinguished actors of advanced years playing characters intended by Oscar Wilde to be much younger would be worthy of one of Lady Bracknell’s shrill exclamations or horror.

One unkind national newspaper reviewer went so far as to suggest when this production of The Importance of Being Earnest was kicking around the West End that "luvvies" Nigel Havers, 63, and Martin Jarvis, 74 but professing to be 29, were just topping up their pension funds.

The back story to their appearance along with one of our best loved actresses, Sian Phillips, now a stately 82, as Lady B, Mrs Jarvis Rosalind Ayres and Christine Kavanagh, puts a different complexion on matters.

Havers and Jarvis were cast together as bachelors Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing some 33 years ago and they decided to reprise their roles in Wilde’s classic farce - aptly subtitled "A trivial comedy for serious people" - with a fresh slant.

Again, for disparaging critics the idea of presenting am-dram group the Bunbury Players rehearsing The Importance (cue Havers in bright red sneakers and Jarvis in sunglasses) failed to pass muster, prompting comparisons with Noises Off and A Chorus of Disapproval.

In the hilarious Noises Off there’s a running gag about missing sardines, in Earnest it’s cucumber sandwiches.

Certainly, the audience at the opening night at Dartford’s Orchard Theatre was sent away happy after a rousing reception for such a stellar cast headed by Ms Phillips.

The rehearsal is being held at the splendid country home of Lavinia, who plays Lady Bracknell, and her husband George (Nigel Anthony), who handles the servant roles while tending his beloved garden.

The play about class, morals, money and double identity more as Wilde intended it gets underway in earnest, so to speak, in the second half when we are treated to a barrage of his witty one-liners - most notably Lady Bracknell’s "A handbag?"

As one would expect, Phillips revels in the role of the formidable Lady Bracknell, disdainfully declaring in another notable quote: "To lose one parent may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness."

Also great fun is the verbal sparring between Carmen Du Sautoy (Gwendoline Fairfax) and Christine Kavanagh (Cecily Cardew) in the tea and cake scene as each of them indignantly declares she is the one engaged to Earnest before the deception is revealed.

Both the old charmer and cad Havers and jaunty Jarvis are on fine form as they skip around the stage like two-year-olds and Phillips, Du Sautoy, Kavanagh, Anthony and David Shaw-Parker display utter professionalism in their roles.

While this production provided few laugh out loud moments for my liking, it was a joy to savour Wilde’s wit and put downs and a privilege to witness acting at its finest.

The Importance of Being Earnest continues at The Orchard Theatre until Saturday, September 26. Call 01322 220000 or visit www.orchardtheatre.co.uk for tickets.