THERE are many good reasons for going to see Gaslight by Rowntree Players, which opens in York tonight. The thrill of a whodunit. The enjoyment of excellent acting by a seasoned ensemble.

The chance to see your tea set in action.

That is the unique draw for four people who have booked seats for the last night of the show this Saturday.

Denise Manning, her sister Lesley Porter, her sister-in-law Jean Nichols and Jean's husband David cannot wait to see the silver Victorian teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug glinting in the spotlight.

The tea service was presented to Denise's father-in-law Arthur Robert Manning after he had completed 25 years' service at Rowntree's in 1982.

It had remained wrapped in tissue paper and tucked up in its box ever since. Then Graham Smith, who plays Inspector Rough in Gaslight and owns of the Millfield Lodge Guest House, started asking around for a Victorian tea set for the production.

Denise works at the Millfield... and the rest is theatre history.

"It's lovely. The sugar bowl has two little handles: it's just right for the era of the play," said Denise, who describes herself as "not a big theatregoer".

"We thought we would get four tickets and go and see it in action. It's been stuck in the box for 20 years."

Graham has only had a couple of days' rehearsal with the tea set.

"It does play an important role. A lot of the conversation takes place around the dining table.

"It seems to be learning its positions and staying there. But you never know, there's time for it to get first night nerves."

If you would like to watch the tea set's debut at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, along with its supporting cast in Gaslight, phone the Theatre Royal for tickets or pay on the door.

JOB ad in yesterday's Evening Press. "Midwife. Fixed term for nine months".

ON Tuesday night we gave away a Drive 2004 motoring magazine with the paper, very much enjoyed by Martin Ward of Rawcliffe Lane, York.

"I was even more pleased to find that my Citroen C2 VTR, which I have been driving for the past four months, is apparently not available until 'later this year'," he says. "I hadn't realised that I had such an exclusive model."

ARE you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin. Colleague John Wheatcroft has won £250 of British Airways vouchers in a competition run by the website for Germoloids, the treatment for piles.

The competition involved entrants recalling the most uncomfortable seat they had ever experienced, John's being when he travelled to St Petersburg on a wooden train seat.

Whether that was the reason he subsequently visited the Germoloids website, we thought it imprudent to ask.

THE Diary is taken to task. "Regarding your diary articles I really think you should research your facts before printing," emails Bob Waite, of Windmill Rise, Holgate.

"Queen Victoria's statue in West Bank Park was vandalised about 20 years ago by yobs smashing her nose off and scrawling mindless graffiti all over it. It was not falling to bits."

Sorry, Bob. We're looking into this "research your facts" concept.

Nevertheless, we think it a shame that no one has a thought to model a new beak for the record-breaking royal after two decades of noselessness.

Write to: The Diary, Chris Titley, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN. Email diary@ycp.co.uk

Telephone (01904) 653051 ext 337

Updated: 09:37 Thursday, March 04, 2004