THE world premiere of Peter Sutton's new play - written especially for the 150th anniversary - is quite a melancholy affair.

Sir Edward Elgar is one moment playful, the next cantankerous. He is as unapproachable as he is engaging and Gerald Harper portrays that brilliantly.

As the tensions between Elgar and Lady Alice (played by Janet Hargreaves) surface, so do the insights into their marriage.

He disregards Alice's poetry, treats her, at times, like a child and it's upsetting to watch. He repeatedly tells her she doesn't understand him, never has and never will, and it's heartbreaking.

Alice, although physically fragile, is a strong woman.

It would be easy to pity her - even begin to dislike Elgar - if it was not so obvious how much they needed each other.

Fans of Elgar's music know he had many muses, but rarely consider how those women, attractive women of note like Alice Stuart Wortley (played by Joy McBrinn), affected his marriage.

That question is almost answered and by the end there is a bitter-sweet satisfaction that Elgar truly loved his wife.

There was, however, disappointing little use of Elgar's work, which, if played at the right times, could have proved incredibly powerful.

Elgar and Alice runs until Saturday, June 8, then goes on a UK tour.