IF Russian playwright Anton Chekhov held the opinion that marriage was a never-ending tortuous trial to be avoided at all costs, it it found no louder voice than through his play Three Sisters.

In this production by Theatre Royal Bath at the Malvern Theatres, the portrayal of marriage is so gloomy it might persuade you to an early death rather than commit the folly of promising honour, love and obedience.

In a lively and music-filed production, the middle sister (Imogen Stubbs) is a hotbed of emotional turmoil after realising the mistake of marrying too young. In a hormonally-charged bid for happiness she embarks on an affair with a soldier whose his wife attempts suicide to get his attention.

The noble eldest sister (Serena Gordon) says she would marry anybody who came along, but instead is reluctantly imprisoned in her role as headmistress at the local school.

The hopeful youngest sister (beautifully played by Naomi Frederick) is eager to wait for true love when she moves to the city - but Moscow never comes and, flattened by disappointment, she prepares to martyr herself to an older man.

Meanwhile, their irritating and silly sister-in-law eagerly conducts a social-climbing affair with their brother's boss, helping to reduce him into a snivelling wreck.

Despite the warmth gained by employing demonstrative physical affection in this consistently-paced production, it serves to make the sisters' gloom more desperate, isolating them in a world spiralling out of control.

Three Sisters runs until tomorrow (Saturday). For tickets, ring 01684 892277.

Ally Hardy