AMANDA and Elyot, who divorced acrimoniously five years ago, have both now remarried. To their initial horror, they end up honeymooning in the same hotel.

Now with calmer partners, the passion and excitement they both crave is still to be found in each other and sparks begin to fly. Running away together seems the only option, but when the dream becomes a reality, they remember the reasons for their divorce in the first place.

Belinda Lang and Julian Wadham are satisfyingly acidic in the lead roles of Noel Coward's comedy of manners, presenting an uglier side of love closer than ever to hate.

So self-absorbed are the couple, that their suffering spouses are inevitably weaker characters to emphasise their selfishness. Noel Coward said Sybil and Victor are "a couple of extra puppets thrown in to assist the plot and provide contrast."

Mary Stockley and Robert Portal gave the necessary strong performances to save the characters from oblivion, delivering the perfect insipid bores.

It may be an incredulous scenario and it can teeter on the wrong side of tiresome at times; Amanda and Elyot switch endlessly from love to hate with the ease of flipping a coin.

But the joy of Private Lives was and always will be in the witty dialogue, jagged with sophistication and quite risqu when it was first performed in the 30s. Audiences may demand more to be shocked these days, but they couldn't ask for more to be entertained.

Private Lives runs until Saturday Box office: 01684 567751.

Review by LOUISE BARNSLEY.