WHAT great news for Merseyside's thriving arts scene - another vibrant venue for theatre, music and comedy has opened.

The Royal Court is a vibrant upstairs now - down below - there is a new stage to add to the success story.

It's an ideal platform for the Rawhide Comedy Club with its cabaret-styled seating and top-notch food.

It is also a great place for stage productions.

The Rainbow Connection is playing this week and it reminded me of the famous Liverpool Lunchtime Theatre that graced Chaucer's pub in Hardman Street.

I have happy memories of reviewing there back in the '80s.

So it was good to see the Paul Goetzee the man behind that cultural concept here directing Joanne Sherryden's bitter –sweet drama.

And Paul makes the most of the space to maximum effect.

The action takes place in an apartment but there is an outside sequence in the rain that is beautifully handled.

This is a tale which had its first outing in 2013 at the Unity Theatre.

Now this new production illustrates why it is well worth re-visiting Danny O'Brien (soon to be seen in Lennon's Banjo) and accomplished actress Angela Simms play two likeable characters Joe and Shelly who you do get to care about due to first class performances.

Sensitive Joe is a jingle writer who is gay while Shelly is larger-than-life and louder than her dress sense.

They say opposites attract and that is the case here.

She is being emotionally messed about by her boyfriend who keeps threatening to leave his wife while Joe cannot come to terms with a very personal family tragedy.

He has a love of old movies she has a dream for some sort of security.

They both love wine – so that's something they really do have in common.

There are great one-liners but what makes this a winner is the writer's ear for dialogue.

It is a 30-something love story that happily has a beginning, a middle and an end in a satisfying 90 minutes (including interval).

And the incidental music, including the Paul Williams song from the Muppets movie is perfectly-placed.

I look forward to more plays from writer Joanne.

And I will definitely be back wearing my critic's hat at the Royal Court Downstairs.

Encores all round.

FOUR STARS - A terrific two-hander

Until April 12 0151 709 4321