Private Lives The Marco Players at Chorley Old Road Methodist Community Hall NOEL Coward’s work may not be to everyone’s taste, depicting, as it does, a lifestyle most of us can only aspire to, but The Marco Players’ production of this story of love, hate, passion and confusion was spot-on.

Basically, Amanda marries Victor and, while on honeymoon in the French resort of Deauville, bumps into ex-husband Elyot and his new wife Sibyl, re-igniting their love and also the very issues that drove them apart in the first place.

Natalie Crompton is fantastic as the barking mad temptress Amanda, whose drinking, violent temper and sparkling wit make for a curious blend that Elyot can’t resist. Elyot himself, convincingly played by the smooth John Whitehead, possesses some of the very same traits, only with the rough edges ironed out, until he himself has a drink. Mark Weatherall is comically brilliant as the unlucky Victor, while Sibyl’s slight drippiness is brought to life to perfection by Elinor Hamilton.

The sets are fantastic, and the large-scale change mid-performance was particularly impressive.

Coward’s wit, while not being to everyone’s taste, shines through and the two fight scenes are among the best I’ve seen in amateur dramatics.

Alan MacPherson’s direction and production is, as you would expect, excellent and, while not quite feeling the benefits of the French sunshine that Coward’s characters experienced, most people left with a smile on their face.

Andrew Mosley Runs until Saturday.

Tickets £6 on 01204 841561