When it comes to play construction, Alan Ayckbourn is a master craftsman and this latest offering from the Wick Theatre Company is a superb example of his talent.

The play takes place in three bedrooms in separate households - all cleverly contained in the one set - and revolves around Trevor, who is a catalyst for disaster, and his neurotic wife, Susannah, forever chanting her mantra to build self-confidence.

They ruin a party given by friends Malcolm and Kate and set off a chain of events which not only brings their hosts' marriage into question but also those of Trevor's parents and their other friends, Nick and Jan.

The events bring to light the common themes in all four marriages - ignored wives and sexual boredom.

Ayckbourn has a gift for writing dialogue which is naturalistic and for depicting situations and characters which are familiar to us all.

The play crackles with wit and humour but the author's trademark theme of the pain which lies beneath the surface of relationships is present.

It falls to Sheelagh Baker, as Trevor's mother, to utter the gem: "When sex rears its ugly head, just close your eyes before you see the rest of it."

Katie Brownings' direction extracts the best from the script and creates great comic moments.

She is fortunate in having a cast of such quality that their performances appear effortless.

In trying to find something about the production to criticise I have to admit failure. It is a consummate production.