Shirley Valentine

There is something chivalrous about Willie Russell's writing. He has a great sympathy for women. Yet this play seems somewhat dated: it hits a ceiling of effectiveness by being overzealous on smart one-liners (not to mention the twee device of having the Wall - of her living room, like, you know - as Shirley's confidante) and by cutting close to the bone of sentimentality. The home truths are too cosy.

I wondered why Ronan Wilmot had chosen to direct a play which had done the rounds as a film. The answer is that, despite a few cobwebs, Russell has an entertaining script which still makes for good theatre and transcends the pokey limitations of the venue.

Wilmot is also blessed in this production with an excellent leading lady in Jayne Snow. She handles Russell's monologue with enormous respect for the woman he has created. She is not 100 per cent at home with Scouse and she makes too much use of explanatory gesture, but at the heart of the performance is sterling integrity.

Plays Tuesday to Saturday (booking on 01-6703361)