BOLTON Little Theatre opens the new year this time with a hilariously funny production that manages to be both old­—and sparklingly new at the same time.

For Love Or Money is billed as a "daft comedy about greed" and it has only recently finished a national tour with the professional company "Northern Broadsides" throughout 2017.

The play is an adaptation of a classic French comedy by 18th century playwright Alain-Rene Lesage and has been adapted by Blake Morrison to be set in Yorkshire in the 1920s.

"Blake Morrison has become well known in contemporary theatre for his adaptations of earlier works," said director Simon Mott, "And he seems to have hit comedy gold here. He’s translated what was a very funny anyway into the new setting of a small town in Yorkshire and it seems to work brilliantly."

The plot sees a beautiful widow Rose, played by Sue Mallett, being wooed by two suitors. Fresh from the City and with endless money at his disposal Vincent Bradley plays Fuller, the banker who showers gifts on her.

Meanwhile Sebastian Fitzharris, playing the young dashing Arthur, sees a better use for Fuller’s wealth. Arthur, though, is a gambler and so in the love triangle the ensues he’s constantly trying to gamble money that isn’t really his­— and all the time telling the most outrageous lies.

Sue said: "Rose wants Fuller’s money with Arthur’s looks but – as in life – you can’t always have everything."

Throw in a bailiff, a drunkard, a vamp, a second-hand clothes dealer and two upwardly mobile servants, and the complications multiply.

"It’s all based on Lesage's savage eighteenth-century comedy Turcaret," said Simon, “"hen Northern Broadsides staged this adaptation it was described as a story of monstrous wealth and whopping lies."

For Love Or Money runs from Monday, January 28 to Saturday, February 2 at 7:30pm nightly.

For further information call the box office on 01204 524469 or book on line via the BLT website www.boltonlittletheatre.co.uk.