As a novelist, I love Michael Frayn’s books, Headlong and Spies are personal favs of mine. So I for one was very glad when the Vic said they were going to put on two of his plays, Alphabetical Order and Copenhagen.

Myself and the good lady rushed round on Thursday, in all that heat to get up to Basford for a down time together and to enjoy the play. Ear wigging on some of the conversation going on, it seemed that there was a good turn out of old local journalists in the house. Always good for an ear wigging the hard bitten hacks are, as you sit there stuffing your face with wine gums.

The fact that there was a high population of local jurno’s came as no surprise in fact, Alphabetical Order is a very well know play, set in the Cuttings Library of a un-named local newspaper in 1975. This being well before this Interwebnetworldwidething was anything much to talk of; the Cuttings Library was the font of all knollage for your every day lead writer.

In the play Lesley (Laura Doddington) takes a job as assistant in the Library to Lucy (Isobel Middleton). Lesley wants a foot in the door at the paper as she wants to be a reporter. The Cuttings Library seems a good place to start, as, with loveable eccentric Lucy, the place is in utter chaos. Others passing by are Geoffrey, the office runner (David Bowen). Arnold, an old time reporter (John O’Mahony) who would rather work in the Library as opposed to the main office. John (Andrew Pollard), the lead writer and on/off boyfriend of Lucy. Wally (Jamie Hinds), review writer, who happens to be hard of earring and as a shine for Lucy. Nora (Deborah Maclaren), office show off and paper editor.

By the start of second act Lesley seems to have most things sorted out, the office is tidy, Arnold’s hidden up a dark alcove, the filings nearly right and she’s pinched John from Lucy. Then something happens that no-one expects.

Alphabetical Order is pure good theatre, it’s not spilt your sides, laugh out loud comedy, but you don’t need that all the time. It’s a very enjoyable, clever comedy that’s not hard to get into and enjoy.

I’ll tell you this much, I would not like to be one of the stage hands tasked with cleaning up after, one or two had got started on what looked like an all night job as we left.

Alphabetical Order runs on its own until Tuesday. It is then joined by the other play in the season, Copenhagen, from Friday 28th. Other dates for Alphabetical Order are 3rd 5th (afternoon show) 7th 9th 11th 12th (evening show) of June.

And now, Ticket information, seats range from £9.50 to £17.50, knock £2 off if you can get concessions. You can book for both and get one half price. Or you can book for both and get to see Rafta Rafta or Bleak House, well, for free, how ruddy good is that. Get on down to the box office at the theatre, give them a ring on 01782 717962, or surf into www.newvictheatre.org.uk, if that’s what you call it.