Review: Spike Milligan's Adolf Hitler: My Part in his Downfall ***

This strange show falls between two stools – pleasing neither the die-hard Milligan fan, nor those with a passing interest wanting to know more about the man.

However, it still manages to be a good piece of theatre, offering a poignant and often funny story of a band of brothers at war.

At its heart is a brilliantly acted piece of work, in particular from Sholto Morgan, who plays Spike. This is Morgan's professional stage debut – he has a rare assurance on stage.

Based on the acclaimed and surreal memoirs Milligan wrote about his time fighting for King and Country against Hitler, this show often looks like a revue.

It features much of the music and many of the sketches Milligan performed while fighting during the Second World War.

While the horror of war is never truly brought home, the boredom of it is. In the second half we get glimpses into Milligan's mind when

he is laid up in bed and see some of the effects of his manic depression.

During these moments you hope the script will kick on and tell us more, but the instruments come out and we slip back into the man's comedy sketches.

To Feb 27. Sheffield Lyceum, Mar 2 to 6. York Theatre Royal, Mar 16 to 20.