Two Tracks and Text Me -- West Yorkshire Playhouse

Rumours of people walking out on the most recent play to premiere at the West Yorkshire Playhouse only succeeded in fuelling my curiosity.

Two Tracks and Text Me centres around a stray text message sent by a group of friends which reaches Louise, a young girl anxious to escape her abusive home life.

Failure to specify that this is a play about the sexual abuse of a child is somewhat sneaky and the result was a number of people sobbing in the aisles.

The leading men are likeable enough to raise the odd giggle, but their performances are awkward and amateurish.

As for their girlfriends, they are perfect examples of women written by a man.

Zoe Thorne however is astounding as the vulnerable Louise.

But it is the fact that the tiny 19-year-old actress is so convincing as a child that the abuse scenes between father and daughter are so uncomfortably graphic in their implications.

Gemma Berry

Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan -- Bradford Alhambra

Bollywood came to Bradford as a little piece of Mumbai (Bombay) lit up the Alhambra stage.

But if the audience came expecting something to match the West End effervescence of Bombay Dreams, they may have left a little disappointed.

The budgets for the two shows are as far apart as Manchester and Madras -- but those who came to the Alhambra expecting nothing more than a colourful, tongue-in-cheek show should generally have been satisfied.

It would be hard to lose yourself in the diaphanous plot -- like most Bollywood productions, it had the timeless ingredients of love transcending religion, political corruption and the privation of the poor.

The actors were plagued early on with technical difficulties and there were a few bum notes flying around, but the female lead -- Sonam Singh Kaira was a highlight -- and the crowd enjoyed Oroon K Das' role as the seedy film producer.

Stuart Roberts

Rocky Horror Show -- Bradford Alhambra

30 years on and going strong, Rocky's still a riot.

Only those without a pulse could fail to enjoy themselves as a flawless cast and enthusiastic audience fed off each other throughout a superb evening.

The tale of transvestism cross-dressed with science fiction is nonsense of course, but RHS is all about the singing, dancing and frolics -- from those on stage and in the stalls.

Lionel Blair was perfectly cast as The Narrator and Jonathan Wilkes was faultless as basque-clad Frank N Furter (above).

All the actors were excellent but special mention should go to Sally Hunt whose performance as the neglected Columbia was almost show-stealing.

The audience too deserve credit for some great costumes and dodgy dancing. Miss this show, and you really have missed out. Runs until tomorrow.

Stuart Roberts

The Picture of Dorian Gray -- Leeds Grand

Oscar Wilde's macabre tale of vanity, corruption and murder is formally treated in this rather straight adaptation -- you will find no fancy scene transitions or arty experimentation here.

Robert Powell has all the best lines as the mischievous Lord Henry Wotton and Elizabeth Power puts in a scene-stealing performance as Mrs Vane.

Nick Waring is good in the lead role -- not particularly likeable -- but perfect as the whiney, philandering Dorian. He is one of those actors who's exaggerated voice projection and affected mannerisms tend to be more at home in pantomime than serious theatre.

But if you can get past Waring's uncanny resemblance to Darren Day -- and the expectancy that he will burst into songs from 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat' -- then solid performances all round and dashes of Wildean wit makes for a gripping and enjoyable adaptation.

Runs until tomorrow.

Gemma Berry