Instead the perfectly constructed comedy is peppered with numbers that are witty illustrations of character or situation

Instead, the perfectly constructed comedy is peppered with numbers that are witty illustrations of character or situation. This 1962 show is based on the Roman comedies of Plautus and boy, did he know a thing or three about farce. Plus, the show's book is co-written by Larry Gelbart, the genius behind Mash.Unusually for a Sondheim musical, most of the songs do not further the plot. Director Ian Talbot's larky cast sports a Sixties rethink of Roman gingham - a sublimely silly confection of mosaics, chain belts, big sandals and bigger hair. The plot centres around Pseudolus (Roy Hudd, doing good-natured vaudevillian shtick), a slave who longs to be free, who referees the proceedings and keeps the audience up to speed.

Frankie Howerd reprised his performance in the role on television in Up Pompeii, which tells you everything about this show's gloriously incorrect sense of humour and the hallowed age of its jokes.However, complaining that the jokes are old is a compliment To be precise, they are 2,000 years old. Mind you, one look at the clashing colours of Paul Farnsworth's jaunty set does that. Three higgledy-piggledy houses in lemon yellow, orange squash and shocking pink? And that is before you see the costumes. "SOMETHING that's gaudy/ Something that's bawdy/ Something for everybawdy..." Written during previews over a weekend to replace the original opening song, the now famous "Comedy Tonight" - a gleeful succession of puns and punchlines - does everything an opening song should It warms up the audience and sets the tone of the show. Two divide pounds 7.6m lottery prize TWO TICKET holders shared the National Lottery jackpot of pounds 7,579,822 in last night's draw, pounds 3,789,911 each, Camelot said A further 21 people scooped pounds 111,059 each The winning numbers were 8, 25, 26, 37, 38, 48 The bonus was 24..

He will say that today's annual report on his administration's performance - on sale at Tesco supermarkets - shows "a government governing for all its people", but he will admit: "Not everything has gone well and we put up our hands and acknowledge that We will seek to learn the lessons.". Peter Mandelson, who resigned from the Cabinet last December over his pounds 373,000 home loan from Geoffrey Robinson, but has been tipped as Ms Mowlam's replacement, will probably have his comeback deferred.Paul Murphy, Ms Mowlam's deputy, is expected to beomcome Welsh Secretary, succeeding Alun Michael, now First Minister in the new Welsh Assembly.Mr Blair, frustrated at the lack of progress in driving his policies through Whitehall, looks certain to sack Jack Cunningham, the Cabinet's "enforcer".Replacement candidates at a more powerful Cabinet Office include Alan Milburn, the Chief Treasury Secretary and Lord Falconer of Thoroton, who is a Cabinet Office minister.Mr Blair will candidly acknowledge his government's failings. It will be headed by the Chancellor, Gordon Brown.In the reshuffle, which may take place on Wednesday, Mo Mowlam is likely to stay on as Northern Ireland Secretary for a final attempt to push forward the stalled peace process. He will act as the party's voice in government, with a brief to revive the morale of grassroots activists. Mr McCartney, who is expected to become Labour's campaigns co-ordinator, will join an "A team" to be set up this autumn in order to plan Labour's strategy for the next general election. TONY BLAIR will reshuffle his Cabinet this week to answer criticism that the Government has failed to deliver its election promises and has ignored Labour's traditional heartlands. Ian McCartney, a Trade and Industry Minister on the political left, will be promoted in an attempt to prevent rifts between the Government and the Labour Party. The government has to decide exactly how much other information can be given, before a 2009 deadline.A total of 29,000 babies have been born in Britain using IVF, since the first successful procedure in 1978..

Details of all donors have been registered with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority since 1991, and anyone over the age of 18 can already contact the authority to ask whether they were an IVF child. Only 900 out of the 4,000 required each year are currently donated. Some hospitals have applied to import sperm from abroad, while others are offering cheap fertility treatment to women willing to donate eggs for later use.The waiting list for surrogate eggs is between four and eight years. The health department spokeswoman added: "This is only the first step on the way towards possible legislation."The consultation paper is expected to push for similar rights to those granted to adopted children in the 1970s, when for the first time they were allowed access to information about their genetic parents on reaching the age of 18.Childless couples seeking access to IVF treatment already face severe shortages and long waiting lists.