For her directorial debut -- and farewell -- to Bermuda, Victoria Waddington has chosen a "brilliantly witty'' comedy by one of Britain's most successful playwrights for next week's BMDS production at Daylesford.

`Do Not Disturb', by Michael Pertwee (film screen-writer and author of many episodes for the popular UK TV hit series, `The Saint'), is fairly unusual as a comedy where the women outnumber the men by four to one.

"I have a very strong cast, which is fortunate because it's quite difficult to find plays with good female roles. All too often, we have a situation where a lot of women are competing for just one or two roles at auditions at Daylesford -- so I hope this helps redress the balance. There are some wonderful female roles in this play,'' says Ms Waddington. "It's a very funny play, but it's not a farce because the characters are very real, people whom the audience can identify and sympathise with. They're not blown out of proportion as they tend to be in farces. Each situation that arises in the play is, in itself, quite simple and believable. It's when these situations are all strung together that the fun begins!'' Warming to her theme, she continues, "I like the fact that this play centres around this one guy (Jay) who gets embroiled in what are really everyday conflicts. It has some very witty moments for some very recognisable characters. It also has a more serious theme running through it: is Jay the victim or the author of his own misfortune? I have a feeling,'' she adds, "that the men in the audience are going to say `oh, what a lucky boy', while the women are going to say, `Oh, he's horrible!' Well, he is bad, but he's also a lovable character and I think that's what really makes the play so life-like.'' Taking on the lone male role of Jay is Derek Corlett, who has made his mark in such productions as `Joan of Arc', `Evita' and `A Little Night Music'. He was also acclaimed for his own directing debut last year (with Victoria Waddington as a member of the cast) of the brilliant farce, `Noises Off'.

"The role of Jay is a very demanding one,'' she says, "but Derek is very gifted -- and doesn't seem to really realise it. Perhaps I should re-phrase that and say he is refreshingly modest!'' Ms Waddington, who notes that there is a good mix of seasoned performers and newcomers in the cast, is pleased with the four female members of the cast: "We do have some new faces in this play and that's a very good thing. And it's nice to have Evie (Evelyn Macgregor who plays Rose, the first wife) back on stage again. It was Evie who says this play is like Pandora's Box -- each time Jay opens that front door, he never knows who or what is going to emerge, or happen next!'' For Carolyn Finch, who plays Darlene, the girl next door, this will be her first stage appearance. Speech therapist Sandy Lane, who takes on the role of Sonia, Jay's third wife, is an experienced actress from Canada, while Mary, Jay's secretary, is played by Karen Swain, a relative newcomer who has had minor roles in `Third Person Singular' and `One for the Road'. Audiences, of course, will recall that Evelyn Macgregor has appeared in countless productions, including fine performances in `The Little Foxes' and `Whose Life Is It Anyway?' The plot of `Do Not Disturb' evolves around Jay, who, having walked out of his third marriage to a highly temperamental actress, resolves to leave his complicated past behind him and start life anew. Moving into a modest London flat, he craves solitude. Instead, his wife demands him back, his first wife of 18 years before re-appears, convinced that he must turn to Jesus for forgiveness, the girl next door bombards him with threats of suicide, while his secretary arrives to declare her undying passion for him. "There is a nice balance of characters and they play off against each other very well. I have an array of different accents but I don't think that matters because it's set in London and that's a very cosmopolitan place.'' This is the sort of play, feels Ms Waddington, where the audience knows, almost from the very beginning, that Jay is going to get his `come-uppance', but the point of the play is to trace how that happens. "I suppose the one farcial-type situation is when the women take pity on him and are all onstage together, being `good Samaritans' by bringing him dinner; he's sitting there with a groaning board of take-away food and the women are all angry that they are not alone with him -- and each woman is vying for her particular offering to be given the central spot on the table.'' Victoria Waddington, who has an honours degree in drama and education studies from King Alfred's College in Winchester, says she has always wanted to direct. "I did a lot in England, as it formed part of my course. When I came here I got involved in the local drama scene but, until now, mainly on the acting side of things.'' Since her arrival here where she currently teaches drama at the Jackson School of Performing Arts, she has appeared in `Noises Off' and `The Pirates of Penzance'. She has scored huge successes in leading roles in `Arsenic and Old Lace' (BMDS) and as the wildly seductive maid in Joel Froomkin's memorable production of Sondheim's `A Little Night Music' for this year's Bermuda Festival. Audiences will be able to catch up with her last Bermuda appearance in next month's final showings of Jabulani Repertory Company's hit farce, `There Goes the Bride'.

"Yes, I shall miss Bermuda very much,'' admits the daughter of Lord Waddington who, incidentally, is refreshing modest and down-to-earth herself.

She is "determined'', however, to see whether she can get into the theatre in England, "even if it's on the admin. side. Yes, I've been applying for this and that, but,'' she adds with a rueful laugh, "I must admit it probably didn't help with auditions and things when I wrote off on paper that had `Government House' scrawled all across the top! Anyway, it's been a wonderful experience to work in the theatre here. And this is a lovely play to direct.

It really becomes a series of `two-handers' with each of the various women. I think people will find it funny -- the cast is certainly laughing a lot when they watch each other's scenes.'' Producer of the show is Christine Littleboy, with Richard Klesniks as set designer and Garry Lounsbury as his assistant and stage manager.

`Do Not Disturb' will be presented at the BMDS Daylesford Theatre from September 22-27 at 8 p.m. nightly. Tickets will be available to the public from September 15-20 from 5.30-7.30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays and on Saturday from 12.30-2 p.m. at the Daylesford Box Office only.