THE 2006 One-Act season at Tolworth's vibrant CornerHouse arts centre was a triumph, proving again that there is a huge resource of dramatic talent in the area.

Eight plays by local writers, ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, were performed in blocks on alternate evenings, with season co-ordinator Jon Constant ensuring each batch ended on a light note.

As most focused on worthy but depressing subjects (Tolworth's playwrights clearly have a lot on their minds), this was essential for the peace of mind of the audience, sitting at circular tables in the CornerHouse auditorium. Overall, the humorous eclipsed the desolate, demonstrating that you can still make your point within comic dialogue.

Pick of the crop was Come Fly With Me', written by Tanya French, directed by Richard Burley. It could have existed as a witty, monologue by a nervous flyer (Jane Grove), but it was elevated to a, ehem, higher plane by perching Jon Constant alongside her in the departure lounge, reacting with a wonderful range of facial expressions to every line.

Meet Mr Brownlow', written and directed by Michael Ross, starred Barry Rocard as a partner in a curious Dickensian law practice, which takes on a new receptionist (David Thorn). Ross's dazzling writing was beautifully brought to life by a fine cast.

Mum's Legs' (written by Chris Masters, directed by Andrew Blair) featured brothers Ben and Jake (Jim Robertson and James Whately) imagining alternative uses for their mother's prosthetic limbs in a black comedy with guffaw-generating lines.

Among the more serious topics, Aimee Watson and Emily Newton interacted well in A Death In The Family', written and directed by John Ryan. A poignant, tense mini-soap, it followed two sisters dividing their late mother's scant possessions, and triggering memories and recriminations.

Violet' (written and directed by Chris Masters) was a tour de force by Sue Lee as the matron of a care home, musing aloud about her relationship with her late father (Barry Rocard).

Both Violet' and Waterloo Sunset' (another play by Michael Ross) would have benefited from brisker pace, although the latter based on the Kinks' song characters, Terry and Julie, converted into London down-and-outs generated strong performances by Joanna Buckley, Tanya Smith, Ian Mole and Carol Ann Peters.

The One Acts were completed by The Eastern Shock' (written and directed by David Gray), featuring Deb Shepherd, Ian MacDonald and Amy Brown in an Ibsenesque drama set in modern Russia, and Alone' (written and directed by Richard Burley), a bleak, claustrophobic play in which John Ryan and James Whatley while away eternity.

Tim Harrison