THERE is a narrow line between intense domestic drama and melodrama, especially when the setting is clasically Victorian.

Patrick Hamilton's play, written just before the war, should be a psychological thriller in which the basic outlines of the plot are revealed fairly early but the audience is kept in suspense by the nature of the characters and the possibility that all may not end happily.

Two film versions were made in the 1940s, both supplying the dark, brooding atmosphere essential to a thriller like this.

Unfortunately, this production is much closer to melodrama and thus loses its whole purpose. While Charles Boyer was a menacing, psychotic charmer in George Cukor's 1944 film version, in this play Peter Amory is a barking bully whose delivery is so stilted and hectoring that if he suddenly blurted out 'ex-ter-min-ate' no-one would be surprised.

As the bemused, terrified Bella, driven to apparent madness by her husband's tricks, Leah Bracknell manages the fear reasonably well but vastly overdoes the simpering and her overused expression of wide-eyed wonder is more reminiscent of a California facelift victim than a downtrodden Victorian wife.

There is no quiet menace, no change of pace or mood, just a frantic rush to get to the end.

Veteran Terry O'Sullivan brings some light relief and a measure of sanity as Inspector Rough, Estelle Collins is a saintly and loyal maid and Claire Marlowe a cheeky Cockney whose seduction of the lascivious master comes as no surprise, though someone needs to teach both of them how to do a stage kiss because Monday's first night audience found their clumsy attempts at passion nothing short of hilarious.

A good play is spolied by clumsy treatment. Box Office: 01242 572573.

Review by STEVE EVANS.