FROM the minute Elaine Sawyer slinked on to The Rep's stage as the original desperate housewife Mrs Robinson, it was clear she had intentions of seducing not only a trembling and terrified Benjamin Braddock but her entire audience too.

Everybody knows there will never be a replacement for either Anne Bancroft or Dustin Hoffman. Therefore, both she and Oliver Davies, playing the sexually-confused graduate about to be devoured, made no attempt to do so.

Instead, both – neither looking nor sounding like their iconic on-screen alter egos from Mike Nichols's 1967 movie – had taken a wise decision and played the characters entirely as their own.

Within minutes, save a few magical moments when the audience's excitement at recognising a particular line or scene from the film was palpable, the movie was soon forgotten. Instead, the focus became the stage plot unfolding.

There were plenty of laughs, largely due to Benjamin's immaturity in the presence of the female form, and these were well-executed by Oliver who had settled into his role so well by the hotel scene he really had broken into a nervous sweat.

At the same time, there were fleeting moments of poignancy – reminders that behind the laughs was a twisted mess in which the likes of Mr Brannigan and his daughter Elaine were inevitably going to get hurt.

Elaine being played by Elaine Sawyer's real-life daughter Ella added an extra twist to their captivating performances – as did an unexpected ending to the play. Special mention should also be given to Craig Wood as Mr Braddock.

But there was not a weak link in this cast who performed an exhaustingly dialogue-rich script seamlessly last night.

So here's to you Mrs Robinson, Benjamin, Elaine, the set designers and the rest at The Rep. Let's hope the popularity of this, the final production of the present season, lasts the rest of the week.

The Graduate runs at Stoke Rep until Saturday, June 27. Performances are daily at 7.30pm with a 2.30pm Saturday matinee. For tickets, call 01782 209784 or 206000.

Tamzin Hindmarch