Gasleak Theatre's 21st anniversary production of German dramatist Bertolt Brecht's and composer Kurt Weill's show at Melton Theatre is not an opera but a cynical, earthy and funny musical comedy packed with great songs and humour. It produced the renowned song Mack The Knife and indeed it opens and closes this production – ably delivered by Streetsinger (Mark Hubbard).

Directed by Gasleak founder David Irving, the show focuses on the life of Macheath (Mack the Knife) – a lifelong criminal, liar, serial womaniser, and dangerous charmer. Not the sort of chap you'd want for a son-in-law, you might think; and that's certainly what Mr Peachum thinks when he discovers that Macheath has seduced and 'married' his daughter Polly.

Not that J.J Peachum is a model of rectitude; in fact, he is the boss of an organised begging and protection racket for the whole of London. Peachum and his formidable gin-sodden wife swear revenge on Macheath, and to get it, they exploit his one weakness – women . . . and things develop nicely along those lines

J.J. was superbly played by newcomer Stuart Scarborough who really got into the role of the wheeler-dealer shyster, often showing great comedy touches and delivering his songs with a strong voice. He strutted the stage delivering his cynical philosophy of life, but didn't let it inhibit his outrage at Macheath's seduction of his daughter and his determination to bring Macheath to book by fair means or foul.

He enrolls a new beggar called Filch (Alan Barton) with the help of his wife (the excellent Rachel Roberts), but notice daughter Polly did not come home the previous night.

The scene shifts to an empty stable where Macheath (Keran Turakiah) is about to marry Polly (Charlotte Warrington), as soon as his motley gang (played brilliantly by Paul Jewell, Tom Marshall, Sam Robertson and Graham Spencer) had stolen and brought all the necessary food and furnishings, and the decrepid reverend (Eric Bryant).

No vows are exchanged, but Polly is satisfied, and everyone sits down to a banquet of sorts, but the gang gets nervous when police commissioner Tiger Brown (Bruce Jamieson) arrives, but it's all part of the act; Brown had served with Mack in England's colonial wars and has prevented him from being arrested all these years.