Most married men know what it is like when their wife throws a wobbly and refuses - right at the last minute - to go to something that has been planned for ages. So they would have every sympathy with Mel Smith's character in An Hour And A Half Late at Richmond Theatre this week.

Mel, best known as a multi award-winning comedian and partner of Griff Rhys-Jones in Alas Smith and Jones, shows off another side of his talent with a superb acting performance as frustrated husband Peter Travers. However, for him it was not a difficult part to play as he revealed "I had to do it - it had my personality all over it."

Belinda Lang, another TV star following her successes in 2Point4 Children and previously Dear John, was also in her element as disgruntled, stubborn wife Linda, who has a mid-life crisis just as they are about to go to a dinner party.

But, although this is a most amusing situation, it is hard to sustain any play with only two characters. Almost inevitably this poignantly recognisable portrait of a long-married couple starts to run out of steam after an hour.

Mel Smith, who was asked to adapt this new comedy by Jean Dell and Gerald Sibleyras, presumably decided to do without an interval because he did not want to interrupt the acrimonious exchanges - but the audience could have done with a break! And it would have provided a welcome new element if the frantic phone calls from their worried 'hosts' had been answered - or at least a suitable message played on the answerphone!

The action all takes place in the Travers' luxury riverside apartment where Peter will soon be spending his retirement after selling out his share of the business he ran with his partner Toby - with whom they are due to have dinner.

Linda, having suddenly declared she is not going, insists she can't bring herself to indulge in small talk with Toby and his boring wife because she is feeling depressed, worthless and has no sense of direction following the fleeing of the nest by their three children.

There are some very funny lines, especially when the frustrated, impatient husband resorts to sarcasm and reminds his wife she is feeling useless, ugly and unwanted. To rub it in he says "In order to retire you have to have worked at some stage!" She retorts by telling him that the 'affair' he believed she had 19 years ago didn't really happen and she just wanted more attention.

Overall, An Hour And A Half Late, well directed by Tamara Harvey, was an enjoyable evening and some of the couple's exchanges made me laugh out loud - I just wish they had gone to dinner a little bit earlier!

Tony Flood