Critics

EMMERDALE of the 1800s swirls out of the mists of time as former scenery-chewing brother and sister Chris and Zoe Tate become embattled husband and wife in the more genteel surroundings of Victorian London. The battle for Leah Bracknell, as she transforms into heroine Mrs Manningham after 16 years on TV as Zoe, was to capture the plight of a woman at the mercy of a ruthless husband. Peter Amory, almost unrecognisable in a full beard from his 14 years as Chris, was in his element as the melodramatic baddie but less convincing in displaying the softer side of his character. To the rescue, with the rambling explanation as to why a husband should want to drive his wife mad, was supposed to come Bruce Montague as ex-police sergeant Rough. The actor still best known for the TV series Butterflies was unexpectedly replaced by Terry O'Sullivan. Apart from suffering a terminal case of trouser end hooked in boot, O'Sullivan supplied the essential humour and reassurance of the long-suffering retired detective.

Claire Marlowe was believable as the over-familiar young housemaid Nancy, as was Estelle Collins as the sensible housekeeper, but the formal stiffness required to act out Patrick Hamilton's 1938 thriller does require patience on the part of audience and actors. Fast-moving this ain't. Despite some unnecessary repetition of dialogue, the plot is an attention-holder and Bracknell makes a return to the stage to be proud of.

*Runs until Saturday. Box Office: (01325) 486555

Viv Hardwick

Blood Brothers, Forum Theatre, Billingham

WILLY Russell's smash-hit musical about twins separated at birth is packing them in at the Forum, and rightly so. It's an emotional account of a desperate mother trying to bring up nine children in fifties Liverpool, and Linda Nolan has made the role of Mrs Johnstone her own. Her powerful singing voice and stage presence had the audience on its feet.

Narrator Keith Burns sets the scene, fluttering ominously around the characters like the Raven foretelling gloom and doom, while the principal actors manage to be utterly convincing as seven to ten-year-olds. It's a rare acting talent that can transform a grown man into a rowdy child galloping about on an imaginary horse, but somehow they achieve it.

Dark clouds gather as the children grow up. Sparky Mickey makes a major mistake and ends up in jail. Posh but sensitive Eddie falls in love with Mickey's girl and goes off to university without saying a word. The inevitable climax has policemen creeping about among the audience and Linda Nolan as Mrs J facing her double tragedy, singing her powerful finale choked with tears. She wasn't the only one; the tissues were much in evidence for an audience caught up in the dramatic events.

If you haven't seen Blood Brothers, the Forum is a good place to see it; the intimate atmosphere adds to the emotion of it all.

*Runs until Saturday. Box Office: (01642) 552663.

Sue Heath