The Ring of Truth, Orange Tree Theatre

The programme notes reveal the Orange Tree are keen to bring Wynyard Browne's 1958 play The Ring of Truth out of the shadow cast by the writer's better known contemporaries such as John Osborne and Arnold Wesker.

Although Auriol Smith's production is a sprightly and enthusiastic reading of the play in which Tom Gore, a mathematician, and his textile designer wife Emma find their lives turned upside down by the loss of the titular engagement ring, it is the writing itself that proves the production's undoing. The play has much to say about the social context in which it was written. It reflects many of seismic shifts taking place in British life at the time – the servants are revolting, an angry young man pops in to vent some spleen at the older generation and, as the play starts, the lady of the house is earning more than her husband.

The loss of the ring also provides for plenty of philosophical debate as the pragmatic Tom, who is initially unaffected by the loss, is set in direct opposition to the emotional Emma, who fears losing the symbol of their love is a worrying sign for their marriage.

Unfortunately these elements, particularly the unsubtle and overwritten philosophical clash between husband and wife, gets in the way of the play's potential.

At times The Ring of Truth threatens to become a rip-roaring farce and this is when it is at its strongest. While the acting is good throughout, it is in the second act that the production really comes into its own.

Ian Talbot has rightly been acclaimed for his hilarious turn as the pompous Sgt Borall and he is ably supported by Paul Westwood as his over enthusiastic sidekick Sgt Wimbush and a bug-eyed Piotr Baumann, who invades the stage to great effect as the angry Pole, Mr Prizboski.

The comedy cranks up a gear in this section as the two policemen attempt to extract evidence and cast aspersions on any character who gets in their way. Yet the pace fatally slows in the final act as the philosophy returns, when what the play is really crying out for is a swift and neat conclusion.

Will Gore