EXPLOSIVE, dynamic, controversial and intriguing. All qualities you can attribute to this excellent production of Gore Vidal's The Best Man, currently running at Windsor's Theatre Royal, writes Paul Thomas.

Yes, it is rooted in the 60s with Vidal's sideswipe at both future US presidents, the philandering John F Kennedy and the "I am not a crook" Richard Nixon, but its intelligence and honest portrayal of the race to the White House echos in our own time - my God just look at Trump and Clinton.

Most people I talked to at the theatre said they turned out because the lead role of presidential wannabe William Russell was played by TV's The Professionals favourite Martin Shaw.

Most, however, pointed at former TV detective Wycliffe Jack Shepherd as the outgoing president Hockstader as the driving force of the play, while Honeysuckle Weeks (Casualty, Foyle's War) was also starred by the audience I talked to as the wife of opposing presidential hopeful Joseph Cantwell played by Jeff Fahey.

It is, of course, a star cast on tour with this marvellous adaptation directed by the coming man, Simon Evans, prior to a hopeful West End run.

Glynis Barber plays the acerbic and long-suffering wife of Shaw's seriously nasty portrayal of Senator Russell. Nasty in the sense that he is so Machiavellian it defies belief - but as Shaw told me in preview, "that's politics".

Gemma Jones (Duchess of Duke Street, Harry Potter, Bridget Jones) is a committee woman who Russell compares to the only link to the Ku Klux Klan. Jones is just stunning in this role, and is still at the top of her game.

So here's the plot. At the presidential primaries in the summer of 1960 in Philadelphia, an ethical man running for the presidential nomination runs against an "unscrupulous" man. Populist southern senator Joseph Cantwell is a "bigot and a charlatan", while William Russell, who prides himself on his honesty, is the liberal candidate, "likable, forceful and humorous."

Both candidates try to get the endorsement of the popular outgoing president, who enjoys not telling them which one he'll endorse. But Russell has an indiscretion as a secret. How does it play out.

This is theatre at its best, bravo Bill Kenwright and the entire cast for stunning evening out.

Every seat was the best seat in the house.

The Best Man is the best play...take a bow.

No spoilers, but the West Wing has a serious contender as a heavyweight contender.

The Best Man, Theatre Royal, Windsor, until Saturday, September 23. Box Office: 01753 853888.

See this week's Slough Observer for a preview of next week's 'The House Guest' at the Theatre Royal.