JOHN Godber’s play Departures is a little different from his more widely-performed work.

This story follows two businessmen, their sexy assistant and a long-suffering wife, over a twelve-month series of departures from various airports, with delays all too familiar to regular flyers. Its theme, however, is mid-life crisis and marital infidelity.

The central role of Jim, played by Steve Hawker is a major challenge for any actor as he is on stage for most of the time but he carried off this demanding role superbly. Excellent support was provided by Ryan Gregg as Steve, Jim’s business partner.

Lotte Fletcher-Jonk played Jim’s neglected wife Claire, especially good when conveying her disbelief and wretchedness when her marriage is ended in an airport lounge. Kimberley Scott was convincing as Zoe, the flirtatious personal assistant.

Caroline Bradshaw gave a nice portrayal of Jim and Claire’s daughter Annie and the four cameo parts contributed effectively to the action: Vicki Milner suitably raunchy as a Czech prostitute, Pete Griffiths exuding charm as Dan, the pilot, and Helen Kuster and Sue Ginervra as believable airline employees.

A necessarily minimalist setting, served to underline the fact that one departure lounge is very much like another. However I did get a bit fed up with the blandness of the setting and the pace of the first Act was a little slow. This picked up in the second Act.

The multiplicity of scenes also demanded frequent changes of costume which were effectively varied and suited to each of the situations.