From the Croydon Advertiser - 18th of July, 2008

Review by Diana Eccleston

5 stars

This 1975 vintage Alan Ayckbourn comedy has enjoyed something of a revival of fortunes recently and it's easy to see why. It is quite simply a very funny piece featuring eight great roles - characters we can all recognise.

And this was by far the best production I've seen from ATG.

Everyone succeeds in pulling all of the expected laughs out of the hat, even though not all the portrayals were expected.

The set was a little work of art too, with the design and construction team cleverly cramming three bedroom sets onto the small stage and still giving the actors space to move about comfortably.

Christine Woodhead was cuddly and cute as Kate, coping valiantly with her DIY disaster area hubby Malcolm (Rick Morris) and the aftermath of a party ruined by squabbling guests Trevor (Jeremy Nicholls) and his neurotic, hippy dippy wife Susannah (Louise Canfield, who also directed).

The pair handled their violent argument with great enthusiasm and Jeremy in particular really got under the skin of the husband who leaves a trail of chaos wherever he goes, rather like a clumsy but lovable puppy.

Keith Harper was grouchy Nick, confined to bed with a believable bad back while his sassy wife Jan (Linda Harris) went partying and ended up having a snog with old flame Trev.

Everyone enjoys the antics of the older couple, Ernest and Delia, trying to celebrate their anniversary but ending up in bed first with pilchards on toast, followed soon afterwards by tearful daughter-in-law Susannah.

I wan't sure at first about Ellie Driscoll's Essex girl approach to Delia but ended up loving her: she's certainly an actress who knows how to make her audience smile. Ron White gave us a more conventional but no less amusing portrayal of the delightfully vague Ernest.

Ayckbourn obviously suits ATG: let's hope they give us more soon.