I MUST make it clear at the outset that I'm only going to say positive things about this performance in the hope I'm able to avoid the punishment meted out to the bitchy Doris in this hilarious Ben Elton play.

Sue Lister was brilliant as the nasty tabloid journalist with no scruples, although I can assure readers that no one at the Redditch Advertiser bears any resemblance to her.

She was ably assisted by excellent performances by Anne Cherry as the downtrodden Peggy, Roger Warren as the very seedy Sid and John Parkes as straight-laced accountant Douglas.

Eighteen-year-old Ben Hart gave a very competent debut for the company as Doris' toy boy and the audience appreciated his performance very much.

There were very good one-liners as you would expect from the pen of Ben Elton and I particularly enjoyed the 'dig' at the Royal Shakespeare Company.

I don't want to give the game away, but there are some genuine surprises at the end of the play and I even felt a bit sorry for Doris at the end!

LM