HERE was a second chance to see Blackwood Little Theatre's two entries in the recent Gwent One-Act Play Festival.

And it was soon easy to understand why Last Tango In Blackwood - a comedy by David Tristram - carried off first prize for the group for the fifth year in succession, as well as best director award for Neil Maidman.

Four of their best established actors took on the roles of members of a struggling amateur dramatic society with appalling ticket sales, who then come up with a novel idea to put on a sexy romp to sell enough tickets to save their group from folding.

Rose Collins put in a hilarious performance as Joyce, the quietest member desperate to put on a musical, while Huw Rosser was superbly cast as the odd job man Bernard, who was cajoled into taking to the stage for the first time.

Margaret (Yve Price) eventually saves the group from closure by flashing her assets during a performance of what promised to be their last ever production and Trevor Howlett capably held the whole thing together as director and writer Gordon.

Late Entry, another very witty Tristram play about a drama festival, saw Claire Williams give a short monologue as cat lover Mrs McTavity, which was then judged most scathingly by the adjudicator, played by Graham J Evans whose comic timing never faltered.

For forty minutes, there was not a dull moment as the pair put everything into their performances.

Both plays were much enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience who have come to expect such high standards from this group and were not disappointed.