Excellent performances by Alan G Baker, Peter Wellby and Nicholas Betteridge brought out the humour in Tom Stoppard’s translation of Gérald Sibleyras' Heroes at Lewes Little Theatre.

They gelled perfectly as three cantankerous World War I veterans passing endless days in a French military home in the 1950s.

Baker displayed the ideal mix of vulnerability and cynicism as Philippe, who repeatedly passed out due to a piece of shrapnel in his brain.

And he cleverly conveyed why Philippe feared the nun running the home would kill him.

Betteridge was also convincing as agoraphobia sufferer Gustave, who hatched a bizzare escape plan.

It was left to the gammy-legged Henri to add realism - and Wellby did just that.

He patiently explained the impracticality of it all on learning that Gustave intended to take a heavy stone statue of a dog on a trek to freedom.

The funniest moments were when Philippe came back from a funeral covered in mud after falling into the grave, and when the quarrelling old codgers practiced roping themselves together with a hose pipe.

The plot lacked drama, but the three talented Lewes actors helped director Nigel Sharpe show Sibleyras' play contained far more than quaint sentimentality.

Four stars

*Lewes Little Theatre's next production is The Circle by Somerset Maugham from Saturday November 28 to Saturday, December 5 at 7.45pm except Sunday. Matinee Saturday, December 5 at 2.45pm.