Sillouhette -- Bingley Little Theatre

Laura Judge stole the show for me at Bingley Little Theatre last week.

She was a commanding presence as actress Celia Wallis (above) in Simon Brett's whodunit Sillouhette.

Edward Cowen was an equally strong character as her obnoxious husband and Gareth James was delightful, alternately comical and menacing, as journalist Neville Smallwood.

Stephen Brown was convincing as detective inspector while David Templeton -- BLT's past chairman and current artistic co-ordinator -- ensured a pacy production in his debut role as director.

I hope to see more of his work in this field in future.

He kept me guessing as to the identity of the murderer right to the end.

As always at Bingley, the backstage crew deserve credit, in particular Richard Thompson's lighting and Mike Bamford's effects.

Sylvia Thompson

The Taming of the Shrew -- Bradford Alhambra

Grant Mitchell, the hard man from Eastenders, does Shakespeare -- and I know exactly what you're expecting.

Quirky quotes in Cockney. Quips about Ross Kemp's codpiece. Gags about Grant in pants.

But no, me old china, this is culture and there's more at stake than a former soap star's dignity.

Basically, does setting Shakespeare's famous "battle of the sexes" comedy in 1960s Italy work?

Yes, very entertainingly, in a lightning-fast production at Bradford Alhambra that sharpens the comedy while softening the more distasteful aspects of dialogue and plot.

Several men are trying to win the hand of the sweet and beautiful daughter of a Padua aristocrat.

Their wooing and scheming will be to no avail unless a husband can be found for the girl's belligerent older sister.

Along comes boorish Petruchio -- played by Kemp -- to starve, humiliate and argue the woman into submission.

This edgy play stands or falls on its central performances, and Kemp and Nichola McAuliffe both show the necessary spark and subtlety.

And in what is really an ensemble piece, there is a uniformly-excellent supporting cast offering some stand-out performances.

l Bradford Alhambra, tonight 7.30pm, tomorrow 2.30pm, 7.30pm Phone 01274 432000.

David Knights