WHEN I decided to go and watch this show, I expected a night of very serious theatre.

But instead I was treated, thanks to this splendid production by the West Yorkshire Playhouse, to a fast-moving and highly funny evening of entertainment.

A cast of just four acted all the parts of John Buchan's thriller and the superb staging enabled this to be done with ease.

I especially liked the use of picture frames to depict exits and entrances while the train travelling along with signs being pushed onto stage was a master stroke of invention.

Lisa Jackson, Mark Hadfield and Simon Gregor switched easily from one part to another while hero Richard Hannay, played by Robert Whitelock, was the perfect English gent, too nice to offend and thus getting himself into a lot of trouble.

AG