True to the notes, Stage Fright is 'a savagely funny satire' and it's three players give a real acting master class, squeezing every twist and turn from Lynn Howes wickedly playful script.

Stage Fright follows three actors who participate in a play, authored by budding writer/director Peter and financed by his fading, larger than life friend Charles who is desperate to impress fragile, young beauty Geraldine.

All is not what it seems, as the balance of power quickly shifts between the players as their individual motivations and ambitions become clearer. Each is then confronted with the dilemna of facing potential career meltdown by bailing out or swallowing their pride and continuing in order to keep profile and reputation intact.

The rehearsal scenes become increasingly hilarious reflecting the shifting balance of power as actors swap characters taking on each others lines and delivering them with a mixture of toxic megalomania, raw ambition, bitter resentment and strategic cunning.

The sheer economy of Lyn Howes script works beautifully between Alex Barclay's capable, insecure but impressionable Peter and Sion Tudor-Owen's mistrusting and quietly desperate Charles. Howes' take on celebrity is wonderfully conveyed by Abi Titmuss, with an almost tongue-in-cheek first hand knowledge.

At times Sion Tudor-Owen's barnstorming performance as a raging, vengeful old fool threatens to consume the stage, but Barclay's timidity, innocence and quiet anger creates a perfect foil. Pivotal to all this is Titmuss' ability to evolve her character from 'butter wouldn't melt' victim to starry-eyed, control freak, raising the stakes a notch at a time.

Emma Taylor's direction is confident and assured, allowing the actor's scope and enough reign to convey their collective vulnerability and desperation with great physicality.

Recommended.

PS: There's also a lovely bar downstairs with great food. What more can you ask for?

Stage Fright Until 20th February 2010
Canal Cafe Theatre, Little Venice, London
To Book: http://www.canalcafetheatre.com