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Published Monday 21 May 2007 at 15:05 by Sheila Tracy

Chaos reigns supreme in the cuttings library of a provincial newspaper where Lucy - beloved in more ways than one by the mail journalists - is content to allow everything and everyone to drift along in their own sweet way. The arrival of Leslie, a young newcomer with an orderly mind, who sets about putting the office to rights, changes their working and personal lives for ever.

Martyn Stanbridge gives an amazing performance as an increasingly agitated journalist looking for references in the library to back up his latest story, hardly pausing for breath for ten minutes following his first entrance. Sally Hughes is perfect casting as Lucy, his live in lover and office charge, until being supplanted on both accounts by the arrival of the newcomer, which Eleanor Turner underplays with good effect.

Add to that excellent performances from Terence Booth as the Editor who would never leave his wife and family for Lucy but the two of them enjoy pretending they might; Nick Burnell, who turns to Lucy for comfort when his wife is hospitalised, much to the discomfort of Helen Cotterill who wants him for herself and Nigel Pegram whose primary job seems to be cheering everyone up. Anthony Valentine, taking a break from his distinguished career as an actor, directs a superb cast in this winner of the 1975 Evening Standard Award for Best Comedy.

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