Brief Encounter
Farnworth Little Theatre, Cross Street, Farnworth
Until Saturday

DIRECTOR Andrew Close treats this classic love story with sensitivity and reverence, while testing the limits of theatrical boundaries — with puppets and musical interludes forming part of the performance.

Based on the one-act play Still Life and film screenplay Brief Encounter (both by Noel Coward), we follow the doomed love that blossoms between Alec Harvey and Laura Jesson (John O'Connell in fine form complemented by Janet Leather), whose roles immortalised in the film by Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson.

Support comes from a fine ensemble cast, which provides the singing, background action, and individual characters to help the story along. Carol Butler and Mark Leigh give us a nice contrast by presenting a relationship free of the guilt and angst of the protagonists, while Sarah Chappell and Matthew Sheader are equally endearing as chirpy youngsters Beryl and Stanley. Dependable aide comes from Dave Eyre as Laura's staid husband.

Technically this play is a triumph — Sara Hassall's set design transports us back to a railway station tea room during the 1940s, and ingenious use is made of the acting space to represent various settings. Effects of the trains coming through the station, the cinema and the ballroom are achieved with aplomb, and the costumes are in keeping with the period.

By Peter Haslam