Dreams From A Summer House, Phoenix Theatre Company, Chorley Old Road United Reformed Church Hall

Until Saturday, September 29

THIS is an unusual production in more ways than one. First, Alan Ayckbourn, writing a musical? No, surely not.

Second, what is the Phoenix Theatre Company doing straying from drama into song?

And if that does not disorientate you enough, then with the story of the play you will find a most definite stroll away from the norm.

This is something akin to Beauty and the Beast living in a parallel world to a family in Ayckbourn's more usual setting of middle class suburbia. The two worlds end up tangling into one another. But does this all work?

You bet it does!

A well thought out stage of effective scenery sets the scene for an extremely strong cast, expertly headed by Alan MacPherson, who not only stars as Robert, our central character, but has also directed and produced the play.

There is not one weak performance among the actors. Their task is made more daunting by the unorthodox way in which the play leaps from word into song, but each coped marvellously.

The voices of Alison Partington as Mel and Natalie Kirkbright as Belle shone thanks to the piano accompaniment.

Joe Simmons and Jason Crompton's comic injections were brilliant, and Edwina Freeman stepping in with only a week of rehearsal was terrific -- and word perfect.

David Wilson, musical director, is also to be applauded for the almost constant accompaniment he provided on piano.

This is not an easy production to put together -- which is probably why it is rarely staged -- but the Phoenix cast has managed to pull it off. The company has created a funny, colourful and easy to follow piece of escapism -- something which is more than welcome in today's current climate.

Beverley Greenberg