IN the intimacy of the Forge theatre, a heartfelt "very good" was heard from one member of the first night audience as Bernard Slade's play ended. I was hard pressed not to add an enthusiastic "Hear, hear", because this production, directed with skill by Audrey and Jim Lias, is very good indeed. It is difficult to improve on the sentiments of the New York Times critic who, when the comedy first played on Broadway, wrote that it was "...a delicious and very moral kind of immoral play".

The play should also be highly unbelievable. The concept that a man and woman, both married to other people, should meet only once a year for sex and companionship takes some accepting.

But clever writing by Slade and excellent acting by the well cast Carole Butler (Doris) and Andrew Close (George) persuade us that it could happened.

Butler makes the transition from gauche young woman to mature grandmother, flirting with feminism on the way, with style and shows an instinctive understanding of the character.

Close is excellent as the neurotic George who wears his guilt like a badge and needs Doris to bring him down to earth.

His timing is immaculate and the interplay and touching scenes between the two characters work wonderfully well.

Through their meetings we learn about the "real" lives of the couple - their joys, sorrows. As the play progresses it becomes clear that George is rejecting a life of luxury, while Doris is embracing it.

The passage of time is clearly own with "newscasters" relating the major events of the years and the props team doing sterling working changing the bedroom sheets with the changing years. Costumes reflect the fashions of the day.

Hilarious dialogue, interspersed with some moving moments, is an intoxicating combination and this is what this marvellously witty play provides. DOREEN CROWTHER

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