I was warned Dirty Dusting contained adult humour, but the phrase that came to mind upon leaving Trinity Theatre in Cowes last Thursday was: “I split my sides laughing”.

I’m not kidding – I laughed so hard at CAODS’ performance of Dirty Dusting that I physically hurt afterwards (in a good way). And the rest of the audience was rolling in the aisles too.

With a cast of just four, and one 1990s office-themed set, it’s the sort of play that sounds easy to put on.

But you need four very special cast members to catch every nuance of comedy, heartbreak, and poignancy – and that’s exactly what we got.

Enter the three mature female cleaners, Elsie, Gladys, and Olive – superbly played by Maria Wilkinson, Fiona Gwinnett, and Julie Stonestreet respectively.

They have given many years of service to the company, so it is with horror they discover they are to be made redundant – and they are too old to easily walk into another job.

Enter ambitious young manager Dave – gloating and rubbing his hands with glee that he will finally be rid of the trio.

What happens next – and how the ladies got their own back on the cocksure young man in the most novel and entertaining way possible – was an absolute joy to watch.

The trio went from timid old ladies to tigresses, with revelations about girl-guiding, secret romances, marriage, divorce, and rediscovering long-lost passion along the way.

Praise must also be given to Dave Newton, who played the young manager. His facial expressions and gestures were fantastic – and his final scene was unforgettable.

Everything about this show, directed by John Plumbly, was spot on, from the soundtrack featuring era-appropriate songs such as Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun, to the retro-style computer monitors in the office.

If you haven’t seen Dirty Dusting yet, I recommend grabbing a ticket and treating yourself to a good laugh – the final performances are Thursday, April 25, to Saturday, April 27.