Based on a short story by Thomas Hardy, it's an economy version of Far From the Madding Crowd, in which English rose Emma Fielding accepts a proposal of marriage from fumbling, mumbling John Sessions, then falls for the brass buttons and Peter Wyngarde- style facial hair of dreamy Prussian sauceboat Jean-Marc Barr. The script is undernourished, and the sight of Simon Callow in full military uniform yelling "You're confined to camp!" is more amusing than it should be. But Hardy's fate-punches-everyone's-lights-out conclusion is orchestrated with irresistible poignancy. St Paul may yet be hailed as the saviour of World Cup widows everywhere.Cinema details: Going Out, page 11.. AFTER 25 productions, this is it.

Declan Donnellan's Much Ado About Nothing, which arrives at the Playhouse, is Cheek by Jowl's last A terrific way to go. Everything in this exuberant production has been thought through with scrupulous intelligence. The soldiers returning from war enter an Edwardian world of silver tea-pots, elbow-length gloves and parasols: about as modern as you can get while still hanging on to a period in which a woman can ask her suitor to kill someone as a matter of honour. Nick Ormerod's design of cotton banners combines with Judith Greenwood's lighting to give a strong sequential sense of one day going into the next as we move from dappled afternoon light to the evening glow of the party - where Saskia Reeves's frisky Beatrice has more bubble than the champagne - to the glare of the morning sun as they nurse their hangovers.These officers are a boisterous public-school bunch who clearly need to mature. In this expertly delineated production, we see them do just that. Reeves is marvellously equal to their narrow back-slapping bonhomie.

Her sharp tongue isn't merely cerebral: as she narrows her eyes, or feigns vomiting when Claudio makes a charming remark, her disdain springs from a physical impatience.The period works well for Beatrice's rival: Matthew Macfadyen's lugubrious, upright Benedict has a drawling laugh, raised eyebrows and military bearing His amused certainty comes from rank rather than intellect. It would madden any woman.Time and again, actors reach the edge of the stage and argue their case. When they break back into scenes, Donnellan shapes them into powerful dramatic units. He is constantly inventive: using freezes, overlaps, slow motion, and concurrent scenes which sharpen our grasp of the narrative. He choreographs the company, using them as an element of stage design, to provide the physical context: a dance, a church service.When Hero (Sarita Choudhury) collapses in church, water is called for, and her guilty attendant Margaret (Zoe Aldrich) takes a swig from the glass before handing it on to her mistress. When the immature Claudio (Bohdan Poraj) speaks his epitaph to Hero he reads from a piece of paper. Halfway through, genuine emotion breaks through and he bursts into tears The ironies are delightful.

In proper showbiz style, I hope this Much Ado is only the first of a number of exits that Cheek by Jowl will make.The long arm of coincidence wraps itself right round Elton John's Glasses. A comedy by David Farr, the young former director of the Gate theatre, it started as Neville Southall's Washbag at the Finborough in 1992, opened at Watford with its present title, and now arrives - with Brian Conley - in the West End. Conley plays a lonely Watford supporter who believes the reason Everton took a 2-0 lead in the 1984 FA Cup Final was because the Watford keeper fumbled a cross after being dazzled by the sun bouncing off the glasses of the club chairman, Elton John.If only this was the play's most improbable touch. Automatic sentence is a minimum of 15 years in prison.10 Nov 97 Judge Hiller Zobel offers his version of what happened, reducing the conviction to manslaughter and sentence to the 279 days already served Woodward is free, though ordered to stay in Massachusetts. Woodward is arrested and charged with assault.9 Feb 1997 Matthew is removed from life support and dies. Charge against Woodward subsequently upgraded to murder.6 Oct 1997 Trial of Woodward begins in Cambridge, Massachusetts Both sides present complicated medical evidence. Prosecution says 2.5-inch fracture in Matthew's skull was inflicted by Woodward viciously shaking and then slamming the boy against a hard surface.

Defence argues that the fracture was several weeks old and a smaller incident triggered bleeding on 4 February that led to his death.30 Oct 97 The jury returns second-degree murder guilty verdict. They have two children, Matthew, five months, and Brendan, two years.4 Feb 1997 Matthew is rushed to hospital suffering convulsions. You might argue it was the tidal wave of public sympathy that weighed on Judge Zobel last November and rescued Louise Woodward from years behind bars. Would that wave materialise again?Louise: the unfolding dramaSummer 1996 Louise Woodward leaves for Boston to work as an au pair.Nov 1996 After parting from her first host family, Woodward arrives in the home of Sunil and Deborah Eappen Both are doctors.