Private Lives, Mercury Theatre, Colchester. Until June 4. 01206 573948.

WHAT to do.

One of the 20th century's most popular plays, billed as Noel Coward's greatest, but making it relevant for a modern-day audience.

Not an easy task and one I'm afraid the Mercury's new production fails to pull off.

Director Esther Richardson's approach appears to be to make Coward's lovers a little bit in your face, brash and very loud.

Which is fine if that's the path you intend to take and then resolutely stick to.

Shove them in a couple of holiday chalets in Clacton, then a flat on a council estate in London, and let's see the sparks fly. Fine by me. The traditionalists will hate it but at least you're doing something new with what is, let's be honest, a bit of a dated play.

Or you could just play it straight, set it in the Twenties with a gorgeous art deco set and costumes to match, but then perform it like Coward had intended with wit, suave and sophistication.

At the Mercury we had the set, another masterpiece by designer Sara Perks, and the costumes, but the moments of wit and sophistication were a little bit lost in all the shouting.

Elyot and Amanda falling back in love as 'their tune' is being played was rather lovely as was the bit at the piano but their falling in/falling out of love at the drop of a hat failed to convince. It just wasn't subtle enough.

It wasn't all bad. The fight scenes were very amusing and well done, and Christine Absalom's French maid was brilliant and, well, pretty much stole the show.

Which I think says it all really.

NEIL D'ARCY-JONES