What is love? This perennial question is explored with conviction in Lope de Vega’s play about a father desperate to marry off his two daughters. While one daughter is witty and clever, the other is particularly stupid. Suitors compete with their poetry for the hand of the former, while a large dowry is offered to help capture a husband for the latter. But when love starts to blossom, complications set in.

Frances McNamee as Finea gives a light hearted but well-crafted depiction of near insanity and the audience feel for her. We are swept along with her portrayal of the transformative powers of love. Such an extreme change does rather stretch our credulity, the quality of her performance makes it almost believable.

Hedydd Dylan’s Welsh accent is rather out of place, but she is delightful as Finea’s maid Clara. Her rambling tale of the birth of Tabby’s kittens is enchanting and hilarious.

The rest of the cast are equally excellent. Nick Barber gives a particularly fine performance as Laurencio, while Chris Andrew Mellon and Doug Rao do well to keep their doubling up of characters totally separate, both playing servants (Turin and Pedro) and suitors (Duarado and Feniso). There is no case of mistaken identity here.

Director Laurence Boswell makes the most of the space, creating a black box of a set which cleverly transforms with the addition of colourful curtains or formal tables. Even the scene shifting is a piece of performance, with Annie Hemingway (Celia) and Hedydd Dylan (Clara) expressing their fierce rivalry and contempt in the way they carry a chair.

It may not have the big names of the main theatre but for entertainment, audience engagement and value for money, the Theatre Royal’s Ustinov studio continues to match or exceed its parent. The Spanish Golden Age Season may sound rather serious and heavy (the photos in the brochure do not sell it well) but it is far from so – this romantic comedy is a delight. With the same fine actors appearing in all three plays, why not see them all? There is plenty of time as the Season continues until December 21.