Booze-fuelled squabbles and a stash of skeletons in the closet add spice to this genteel Forties drama.

The story centres on a family reunion in the drawing room of a Norfolk vicarage on Christmas Eve. The geriatric clergyman, his battle-axe sister, alcoholic daughter and errant son make an explosive mix - and remind us family dysfunction is an age-old thing.

At first it feels odd to be watching a Christmas play in February but Tony Britton's loveable portrayal of the high-minded parson losing his grip on family and flock makes this a drama for all seasons.

His children are in awe of his ideals and suppress the reality of their lives rather than disappoint him with the truth.

As a result, life is topsy turvey at the vicarage. The characters play-act roles which make them unhappy and put their dreams on hold. But deceits are stripped away in a dramatic showdown when secrets and lies are revealed.

A rather unconvincing romance is the catalyst for all this - the dutiful daughter Jenny, played by Rachel Blenkiron, wants to escape by marrying her dull engineer boyfriend.

But it is the relationship between the parson and his estranged daughter which is the real tear-jerker.

Katarina Olsson gives a fine performance as the icy Margaret. Her reconciliation with her father is very moving in a stiff-upper-lip kind of way.

Wynyard Browne wrote the play in 1947 and it seems much of it is based on his own experience. He was a journalist in London before having a nervous breakdown and returning home to live with his clergyman father in Norfolk.

His witty script contains lots of interesting ideas about truth and the meaning of life but is never heavy handed.

Light relief comes with some great comedy moments from the spiky pair of aunts, played by Christine Drummond and Pat Mackie.

In fact, the entire cast of the Middle Ground Theatre give engaging performances. They make you care and leave you with a warm, dare I say festive, glow.