It would have been easy for the stage to have been the star of this production by the Malvern Theatre Players.

Malvern's resident amateur company constructed a dazzling re-creation of the theatre as it was in Shakespeare's time - and some companies would have thought that enough.

But it was the actors who stole the show, adapting to the unfamiliar surroundings superbly and making full use of the opportunities offered by the pillars, gallery and doors which were so familiar to Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

The play, a deliciously bloodthirsty romp by Thomas Middleton, is one of the classics of its age and in the hands of a skilled director (Chris Bassett) and an acting group with the talent to interpret Jacobean text in a clear and entertaining manner, the evening flew by.

In keeping with the desire for authenticity, the house lights remained on and the play ran for two-and-a-half hours without interval, though very few of Saturday's audience took up the invitation to leave and come back at will, because the entertainment was just too good.

Two performances stood out as exceptional for an amateur production. Chris Gunter, in a role which would tax many seasoned campaigners, sustained a manic energy as the avenging Vindice, veering from bloodthirsty predator to comic impersonator to moral guardian with apparent ease.

The perfect counterpoint was provided by Lee Farley as Lussurioso, the Duke's corrupt and degraded son. Jacobean villains offer a great opportunity for actors to portray genuine evil but they are also a trapdoor into which the unwary may fall if they overdo it - in this case Mr Farley's smarmy, controlled slimeball was a treat.

All the cast, as well as the musicians and crew, deserve the highest praise for a splendid entertainment - oh, and well done to the stage!

Review by STEVE EVANS