Don't be fooled by the title of Chickenshed’s latest production, as Trumpets And Raspberries is definitely not a two-hour show about America’s controversial 45th President, Donald Trump.

Since becoming leader only a month ago, he has attempted to ban Muslims from entering the country and reversed climate change regulations introduced by former President Obama.

However, despite his overbearing presence in the media all over the world, the show at the inclusive theatre focuses on a different outrageous person with power: the Italian 20th century political figure Gianni Agnelli, who was also a principal shareholder of Fiat.

Chickenshed’s spring season of shows are all exploring themes of hidden identity and freedom, and Trumpets And Raspberries, a farce by Dario Fo, is the first in a long line of innovative productions arriving over the next few months.

Comedian Rob Crouch stars as both the two main characters, Gianni, who is injured in a failed kidnap attempt, and also a man named Antonio, who is one of Gianni’s employees.

The play is the first major staging of this rarely seen work by Dario Fo, who was one of the key figures of European theatre and literature of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Rob has played iconic characters in the past and recently finished touring the sell-out play, Oliver Reed: Wild Thing, where he played the legendary womanising actor, who was known for his role as Bill Sykes in the 1968 musical Oliver!

He also worked with Ricky Gervais two years ago in the television show Galavant, which aired on the American network ABC.

In Chickenshed’s new production, which is directed by Lou Stein, Rob skilfully switches between the two characters. As Gianni, he was convincing in his role as an influential but slightly bewildered authoritative figure, which contrasted with his other persona, the scruffy Antonio.

Despite being known as a comedian, he demonstrated the ability to also explore his acting range and showed a darker side that may not have been seen in his previous work.

Belinda McGuirk was also a standout as Antonio’s wife, Rosa, who slowly becomes increasingly more hysterical throughout the play, as she tries to cope with her husband’s new personality, unaware that she was living with a different person.

Although it wasn’t the sort of comedy I would usually go to see, Trumpets And Raspberries was well-acted and delved into a story that was full of surprises and humour and thankfully, it was also a distraction from the real-life political crisis happening around the world at the moment.

Star-rating: ****

Trumpets And Raspberries, Chickenshed, Chase Side, Southgate, N14 4PE, until Saturday, March 4, 7.30pm. Details: 020 8292 9222, chickenshed.org.uk/trumpets