JOHN Godber writes about what he knows best, the area around his West Yorkshire, birthplace.

Tracing his unhappy schooldays, constantly bullied and under-achieving, through to graduation from college, Andrew Clarke and Andrew Lockie shared the role over an eleven-year period.

Most of the latter’s lines were delivered seated, side-on to the audience, not ideal at the rear of the deep stage, although Director Neil Gwynne was seated much closer and narrated, as Godber aged 58. Paddy Johnson and Alison Wells (parents Vic and Dot) were the pick of the cast, matched only by the excellent Philip de Grouchy’s portrayal of the ebullient Grandfather.

Yorkshire humour is normally delivered dry, and whether it was the script or the delivery, there were very few lines that raised much more than the occasional chuckle from the first-night audience.

This was equally disappointing and surprising to me, as I was born in the same area as the author.

ALAN JOHNS