It has been Fifty years since Joe Orton’s ‘Entertaining Mr Sloane’ first shocked London audiences with its intriguing story of repressed sexuality, blackmail and murder.

The play was awarded ‘Best Play of the Year’ by ‘Variety’ when it opened in 1964.

Its initial West End run was thanks to eminent playwright Terence Rattigan. Rattigan saw Orton’s play and was so taken with it that he immediately raised the £3,000 pounds needed to take the play to a larger audience.

The play is a black comedy, revolving around Kath, her elderly father, and her over bearing brother.

Their drab existence is interrupted by the arrival of a new lodger, the enigmatic Mr Sloane. Provocative and sexually ambiguous, Sloane soon has both Kath and her brother Ed competing for his favours.

But all is not as it seems. Behind Sloane’s nonchalant demeanour lies a calculating psychopath with a dark and secretive past. Seduction, blackmail and murder lie waiting in the wings.

Pauline Whittaker gives a great performance as Kath, whilst Mr Sloane performed by Paul Sandys comes across well with anger never very far under the surface.

Nicholas Gasson as Kath and Ed’s doddery old father Kemp was great in his role, whilst Ed played by Jonathan Ashley also puts in a good performance.

The set which is visible as soon as you walk into the auditorium instantly got people talking. Designer Simon Kenny created Kath’s front room out of piled-up furniture. In one scene Kath walks into a wardrobe after switching on a number of table lamps and emerges in a pink babydoll nightie.

The play might be 50-years-old and in parts does feel dated but it certainly entertained the packed Theatre Severn audience on opening night.

‘Entertaining Mr Sloane’ is at Theatre Severn from Thursday 22 May to Saturday 24. Tickets are available by calling Box Office on 01743 281 281 or by visiting the Theatres website at www.theatresevern.co.uk.