Judging by the spirited discussion among Lavvies aficionados in a nearby hostelry after last night’s performance, this is a debate that will run and run. What’s beyond argument, though, is that this is hugely entertaining and occasionally sublime piece of theatre that should be compulsory viewing for younger generations of Dundonians.

The triumph of Mill Lavvies II is the authenticity it brings to the time and place. This ‘Day in the Life’ of ordinary mill hands is a Dundee cake lovingly concocted by writer Chris Rattray and done to perfection by a cast who seldom falter.

Playing Archie, the lavvie cleaner and daftie, Graham Crammond gives a performance that evokes the character’s vulnerability and essential goodness.

Young Daniel Bruce made an assured debut as Beatles-daft Kevin, apprentice to Henny, the bullying Elvis-wannabe Teddy boy, played with swaggering energy by Paul Dundee. Stewart Preston, playing the permanently apoplectic Robert, was so convincing you feared he might have a stroke on stage.

Some of the sharpest dialogue in the play is between old hands Jim and Geordie, who are somehow both resigned to, yet unbowed by, the drudgery of their daily toil, and still capable of exploiting the comic potential of every situation.

This production, of course, lacks the input of the incomparable Mick Marra, and the songs that were such a feature of the original production 10 years ago are missing here.

Nevertheless, the musical component of the current show provides some of its sweetest moments, with subtle, almost surreal, choreography and a batch of catchy new numbers by Rattray, Stewart Ivins and Steve Cooney (CDs on sale in the foyer!)

Provocative yet affectionate, by turns moving and gut-wrenchingly funny, this Mill Lavvies is an enormously engaging piece of theatre. It shouldn’t be missed.