IT is a credit to the Ledbury Amateur Dramatic Society cast that this insight into the later life of an author few would associate with anything other than a happy childhood works so well.

For Meeting Bea, which is penned by local author and BBC radio dramatist Eric Pringle, could hardly be further away from the world of Peter Rabbit and children's literature as it examines the reclusive Lake District life of Beatrix Potter.

Had it not been for the presence that Shirley Lewis brought to the role of Beatrix Heelis (Potter), you got the impression that the play's intensity might have been a little overwhelming.

But it takes nothing away from a compelling story that carefully juxtaposes a young fan of Potter's books, Sally Warburton, played in equally good measure by Dawn Hemmings, and American publisher Alexander McKay (Mark Llewellin), with a grouchy Bea unhappy at being forced to trawl through unhappy memories from her writing years.

Both are initially unwelcomed as Warburton finds and is ultimately disappointed by her author hero and McKay fails in his attempts to get her to write fresh 'animal' books for the Stateside market.

If Llewellin isn't one of our New World cousins it didn't show because the accent never slipped and Peter Griffiths made the most of the fourth pivotal role, Bea's husband William.

A sometimes dark tale was kept moving along nicely by producer Sue Millington-Jones's use of a split stage and there was humour dotted around.

A triumph that left this satisfied theatre-goer reflecting on the less than happy influences that spawned Peter Rabbit and friends a hundred years ago

Carl stringer.