MEET Diana, a housewife at flashpoint flanked by a motley crew of deluded, dysfunctional or downright fractious guests. From the outset Alan Ayckbourn’s Absent Friends spells out calamity and impending domestic bloodshed.

And it is only too true as well-meaning Diana embarks on a journey of sheer hell to keep up appearances and save face in front of her so-called friends, each becoming ever more absorbed in their own floundering marriages, while she wages a silent war against her philanderer of a husband.

But back to the beginning as it were.

As the curtain opens tensions are running high. Diana, our unfulfilled heroine has arranged a gathering of old friends to cheer up bereaved Colin – who they have not seen for nearly three years -whose fiancée drowned two months earlier. Paul, her bullying, self-absorbed husband, has recently had a dalliance with Evelyn, the taciturn wife of his incompetent business associate, John, both of whom are amongst the guests.

The party is completed by long-suffering Marge, who has left Gordon, her hypochondriac spouse, ailing at home. Soon, lingering resentments and deep-rooted jealousies surface. Of course this is when an unexpectedly cheerful Colin strolls into the mayhem.

Whether prompted by denial or true contentment, his relentless optimism tips Diana over the edge. And this is only about 40 minutes into the gathering.

Ayckbourn’s acerbic dialogue and razor-sharp wit leaves no character unscathed except perhaps happy-go-lucky Colin in this surprisingly riotous play – considering the protagonists states of mind.

While each member of the cast superbly carried the performance, Catherine Harvey ‘s portrayal of Diana certainly stood out. She was both poignant and refreshingly hysterical as a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown, failing miserably to maintain appearances for the sake of her guests.

As for Colin, played by Ashley Cook, his uncanny ability to twist the knife and exacerbate tensions was a joy to watch. Weaving humour and domestic tragedy while masterfully baring the characters’ faults and humanity for all to see, Absent Friends is a theatrical gem. The perfect guilty pleasure to indulge in!

Absent Friends is on at the Wyvern Theatre until tomorrow.