THE DUCHESS THEATRE, LONG EATON: Riverside Drama Company, presents Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, April 10-12, at 7.30pm. Tickets: £5 (concs £3.50).

YET another triumphant success for The Riverside Drama Company. 

I am always astounded that an amateur group, with only 25 members manages to produce such enjoyable productions. 

Lord Arthur Savile's Crime is based on a short story by Oscar Wilde, whose wickedly tongue-in-cheek observations of the upper classes never fail to raise a smile. 

Lord Arthur, days before his marriage to Sybil, is visited by a palmist who predicts he will, at some time, commit a murder. 

Therein lies Arthur's dilemma - must the wedding be cancelled or should he get the murder out of the way first, leaving the path clear for a blissful married life? 

What follows is a gloriously funny tale that twists and turns without ever flagging. 

Paul Norris perfectly characterises upper class chump Lord Arthur, who cannot decide which relative should be his intended victim. 

Brian Hooker is very amusing as Herr Winkelkopf, a travelling salesman with a bagful of murderous devices. Pat Clarke is charming as Lady Clementine, and Emjay Sadler is "to the manor born" as domineering Lady Julia. 

It is, however, Martin Holtman who really gets the laughs in this production. His seemingly effortless portrayal of Baines the butler is absolutely spot on.

At times, his facial expressions are funnier than his lines. 

More of a "who copped it" than a whodunnit, this is well worth a viewing. 

- Fiona Watson