The Homecoming, Royal Exchange Theatre. Runs until March 2

THE latest star to take to the stage in the Royal Exchange's 25th anniversary year is Pete Postlethwaite -- whose "homecoming" to the North-west last night was a triumph.

But this was far more than an appearance by a "big name", this was a performance befitting the star recently described by Steven Spielberg as "possibly the best actor in the world today".

Harold Pinter is not often performed and his play, The Homecoming, is a bitter work centering on a family in London's East End.

Postlethwaite's interpretation of Max is of a bitter father with a cruel tongue. However, his menace is subtle rather than brutal; his exchanges are sometimes spiteful, but also show a great deal of humour. A typical example is when he describes how "we have not had a whore under this roof since your mother died".

The shaking of his hand against his walking stick, his bent frame hobbling in carpet slippers does not frighten, yet somehow, with that expressive face of his and piercing blue eyes, he intimidates.

Postlethwaite, originally from Warrington, is visiting Manchester after a fantastic run of success, and his performance radiates charisma.

However, it is testament to the remaining members of the cast that they are not in his shadow. Paul Hilton is terrific as the menacing Lenny, spitting his sharp lines out, while Postlethwaite's exchanges with Eamon Boland, who plays his brother Sam, are a delight. Audiences will also recognise Simone Lahbib from television's "Bad Girls" and she gives a terrifically controlled performance as Ruth.

The set, with its draylon suite and faded carpet, is perfect. This is not a comfortable play, but a clever and entertaining one which deservedly received rapturous applause from a packed audience last night.

Beverly Greenberg