Bolton Octagon, Second From Last In The Sack Race, Runs until July 6

THIS is a fast paced fun play crammed with a variety of interesting and slightly strange characters.

In fact, knowing David Nobbs, the writer, is the man responsible for bringing Reginald Perrin to life, gives a good idea of the bittersweet style of comedy the audience can expect.

Here, we follow the life of Henry Pratt -- an unfortunate name for an unfortunate youngster who is moved from strange relation to even stranger relation as his family falls apart.

The action begins in 1935, follows Henry during the war years, and watches his subsequent transformation into manhood in its aftermath.

Octagon artistic director, Mark Babych, has directed this play at a brisk pace. As we watch Henry grow before our eyes we are introduced to a variety of hilarious characters coming and going in a series of almost sketch like scenes.

It is hard to believe there are only five actors on stage throughout what is a quite lengthy play. Between them they perform more than 30 characters.

Paul Simpson, however, has his hands full as Henry, portraying him quite brilliantly from early childhood and through adolescence.

Among the more memorable characters are Antony Bessick's hilarious parrot and the wide boy Uncle Teddy. Alison Burrows is terrific as Aunty Doris, James Nickerson shines as the tragic Ezra Pratt and the wonderfully camp public schoolboy, and Susan Twist's sniffing Cousin Hilda is well worth watching.

The pacy show is punctuated by wonderfully evocative music.

This is great entertainment -- beautifully produced, well acted and with wonderfully sharp dialogue.

Beverly Greenberg