ALTHOUGH it’s not quite in the same league as the Canterbury Players’ last production, Strictly Murder, which won Jonathan Coupe and his daughter, Jennifer, nominations for best supporting male and female actors in NODA's regional awards, Peter Gordon’s The Reunion, is still fun to watch.

It is a sad reflection on the notion that bringing together people who have parted for many years, will be a success.

Nigel (Aidan Kielty), decides 25 years later to bring together in the back room of a pub, friends he knew then.

What he forgets is that people change with time as do their relationships and the things that happen.

Unfortunately the crowd he expected, fails to materialise but three people do turn up along with their wives, girlfriends and resentments.

We are flies on the wall as we watch human nature delivered with all its flaws.

Laura Fetherston, the Players new, young director, does a good job, particularly with the points she mentions in the programme – the positioning, and Bill Palmer’s lighting and sound. You can hear every punch and breaking glass in his recording of the fight scene in the main pub below.

The disco music also plays to time with an amusing Jonathan Coupe in lame shirt, jeans and platform shoes, in charge. You’d never guess that in real life he is a Councillor!

But there is something lacking. The actors need more spark to bring their performances to life and the pace is a little slow.

Nevertheless, they work well as a team even though their eight characters are a disparate group of people.

The different attitudes of men and women are stated well, particularly when they sit in groups of four.

The buffit as it is called by the caterer is realistic but you’ll never eat a sausage roll again after learning what happens in the cooking!

At Davyhulme (Wesley) Methodist Church, Brook Road, Flixton, until March 31. Tickets, priced £6, including group discounts are available from from 0161 748 8403. Star Rating * * *