Regular repeats have ensured the antics of Captain Mainwaring and his rag-tag crew remain familiar to generations of viewers long after the end of the original BBC series.

They are as fresh today as when they were originally aired. The quality of the writing and, of course, the acting puts Dad’s Army up there as some of the finest comedy ever.

So, re-creating the world of Walmington-on-Sea inhabited by a host of favourite characters could have been risky.

But Ed O’Driscoll’s production, which opened this evening, succeeds admirably in bringing back to life a host of misadventures originally created by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. It is a tapestry of some of the best TV episodes and scripts .

Audiences will expect to see favourite characters originally immortalised by Arthur Lowe, John le Mesurier, Clive Dunn and Ian Lavender et al.

And this company does not disappoint. They not only capture the characteristics of the fictional parts – Mainwaring, Wilson, Jones and Pike – but also bear an uncanny resemblance to the original players.

Outstanding for me was David Warwick as Sgt Wilson, bringing back to life the great John le Mesurier with every line, every gesture.

Timothy Kightley was a superbly bumptious Captain Mainwaring fidgeting and bumbling around his platoon.

Kern Falconer was uncanny as Private Frazer (we’re aaaal dooomed!), with Jones and Pike being convincingly presented by Richard Tate and Thomas Richardson.

The part of spiv Walker could have been written for Leslie Grantham (he of Dirty Den fame) who combined the role with that of narrator.

This is an affectionate tribute, not only to the ageing men and young boys who were prepared to die for their country, but also to the original company of actors who created Dad’s Army.

It runs until Saturday.

So, fall in, and quick march to the Alhambra and ensure you witness a real gem.