This summer I have sat beneath warm, sunny skies to watch live theatre.

Two weeks ago I joined 12,000 other people on stone seats at the ancient amphitheatre of Epidauros in Greece trying to understand The Archarnians by Aristophanes, performed in Greek.

On Saturday night, I joined fewer people but in an equally packed open air theatre in the Grosvenor Park in Chester for more comedy – this time for Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor.

Which one was the most comprehensible? Judging by the comments on the way to the toilet in the interval, there wasn’t much in it!

“Thank goodness I read the synopsis beforehand” says one punter. “So did I,” says another, “but I am still not sure I know what is going on - it’s the sub plots that get me!”

And which one was the most enjoyable? Difficult to say but I had a good laugh at both.

Epidauros versus the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre

Directed by Rebecca Gatward, The Merry Wives of Windsor is a right romp.

There are love letters, misunderstandings, stroppy teenagers, and men in linen baskets.

As usual with the Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, this year’s Welsh character is a vicar with a voracious appetite - although I do believe it was the bard himself who decided his nationality.

It was a brave, and inspired, move to set the play in the 1970s – a time when attitudes to women were very different from the 21st century mores we apply today.

The programme notes hark back to how sitcoms like The Good Life revolved around the ploys women used to get their way, but more uncomfortable situations – highlighted by recent court cases – were never far from my mind.

Jessica Curtis’s design was perfect and she didn’t miss a trick - cocktail sticks, a hostess trolley, cheese and pineapple and drip-dry dresses and you felt like you had an invitation to Abigail’s Party.

Daniel Goode was hilarious as Falstaff. Imagine yourself at a bar ordering a Babycham and he approaches. Will it be the tip of his cowboy boot or his paunch which reaches you first? Or the stench of Old Spice? And is that a toupé? Help!

Louise Kempton and Ellie Burrow, exquisite as bezzie mates Mistresses Ford and Page, soon got the measure of him - although Mrs F did have to endure a grope on the vinyl settee beforehand.

I always find my attention drawn by some of the smaller roles and Tom Connor pulled some hysterical faces in his many guises while Danielle Henry as Falstaff follower Nym made me laugh out loud (lol).

I also saw Sophocles’s Ajax at Eipdauros (woe is me) and it’s back to the park for Romeo and Juliet next week.

What a tragedy.

Performances of Romeo and Juliet, Wind in the Willows and The Merry Wives of Windsor continue until August 23. Visit www.grosvenorparkopenairtheatre.co.uk or call 0845 241 7868 for details.