The Village Bike

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From Victorian male fantasy figure on the small screen to 21st century object of lust on stage, Romola Garai seems to be capturing the market in young women moulding themselves into the clandestine extra-marital image their adulterous men desire.

In Penelope Skinner’s acute, explicit new drama she plays frustrated thirty-something teacher, Becky, whose husband (now that she’s in the early, as yet unnoticeable, stage of pregnancy) would rather discuss the organic meat for tomorrow’s lasagne than have sex or watch porn DVDs with his increasingly desperate wife.

With time on her hands during the summer vacation, it’s no wonder she’s susceptible to the dubious charms of Dominic Rowan’s Oliver when he turns up on her doorstep, fresh from amateur dramatics rehearsals in his dashing highwayman’s outfit, to deliver the second hand bike he’s selling.

It’s meant to be a no-strings affair, but (as Skinner shows in an often very funny script overflowing with innuendo) sexually liberated or not, the female body can’t always function independently of the heart.

Alexandra Gilbreath contributes a fussing neighbour whose effusiveness hides a deep well of unhappiness, and Phil Cornwell is used and bemused as the widowed plumber who comes to fix the juddering “sweaty” pipes. But the indelible image of Joe Hill-Gibbins immensely entertaining production is of Garai’s Becky, hair flying freely, as she pedals blissfully along the country lanes into the thrusting embrace of her lover – before coming crashing miserably down to earth and reality with her growing bump.

Royal Court Theatre, Sloane Square, SW1W 8AS Tube: Sloane Square (020 7565 5000) royalcourttheatre.com Until 30th July (£10-£20)