A SUPERB set – a stylish apartment with views over London's Docklands, was matched by exceptionally fine performances in the Clarendon Players' production of Flatspin, the second play in an Alan Ayckbourn trilogy, directed by Karen Smith.

Beccie Foxwell starred brilliantly as out-of-work actress Rosie Seymore, who steps into her uncle's post as janitor of the luxury flat while he recovers from a car accident. Rosie relishes the opportunity to imagine herself as the genuine resident of the flat, whose neighbour Sam Berryman (the charming Ben Hart) seems likely to brighten her life. She creates realms of fantasy with no clue that she is becoming involved in dangerous undercover activity.

Lisa Skene, as Annette Sefton-Wilcox, the agent, makes a promising debut with the Players. She leaves Rosie in charge, but strange telephone calls and subsequent visitors hint that life is not at all as Rosie assumes.

Wendy Mitchell as Edna Stricken, ostensibly a beautician, has deeper secrets, while three subsequent arrivals have sinister motives.

Alec Smith as Maurice Whickett, in charge of the operation, has difficulty in curbing the malevolence of the glowering Tracy Taylor (Aless Basram), while his reliance on Tommy Angel (splendidly portrayed by Alistair Aitken) seems sadly misplaced.

As circumstances change, and the outcome of the encounters seems uncertain, Rosie (having abandoned an earlier assumed identity) seems set to lose out yet again.

Flatspin, which attracted large audiences last week, was a top-class production that reflected the continuing success of this long-established amateur company.