Published: Monday, 8th February, 2010 9:00am

Review: Veronica's Room at Wokingham Theatre, Friday, January 22

by Barrie Theobald

Comments (0) | Print | Email

IF ever there was a need to stress the old adage 'never speak to strangers', then Ira Levin's play clearly explains why!

A young lady dining out with her new date is approached by an elderly Irish couple anxious for her to do them an unusual favour by impersonating someone who died way back in the nineteen thirties.

Having agreed, despite warnings from the boyfriend that it could be something more sinister, events quickly descend into the macabre as a very dark psychological tale emerges.

Lauren Shotton, Chris Hillebrandt, Pam Sharman and Alan Long all portray their roles well, although I felt Nigel Lawson-Dick's direction was occasionally over-drawn out in an attempt to heighten the suspense.

While Wokingham's crew again produced an excellent set, a smaller space might have been better.

For more stories and your full round up of what's happening in Reading you can purchase the e-edition of the Reading Chronicle click here.