Whatever happened to the amateur dramatics of old? I'd become accustomed to ad-libs, the barely disguised panic in the wings and adhesive-held picture frames vacating the set for the stage floor.

But it seems those days could well be gone, and I lament them not, if in its place is the sort of polished, straightforward comedy romp of a show served up here.

That the audience felt compelled to howl with laughter at the slapstick antics of a trio of Yorkshiremen given the 'exciting' news that 25 years of marriage could well have been a sham and that they are 'free', owes much to the delivery of those on stage.

The play happily sped along with a skilled interchange of lines that left barely a gap of minutes between each chuckle.

From the start I had wondered if the Yorkshire accents - it is set in the Clecklewyke, West Riding, living room of Alderman Helliwell's house in 1908 - may waiver during the proceedings. They didn't.

No discernable nerves either. It would be wrong to pick out individual performances because the whole here really was much greater than the sum of its, very accomplished, individual parts.

The supporting cast was excellent, as was everything from the show's lighting to the warm welcome given by front of house staff. If they carry on at this rate they'll have to rename this form of theatre 'Unpaid Professional Dramatics'!

Carl Stringer