High Noon, directed by Thea Sharrock, is a perfectly decent version of a trusty western which celebrates its 74th birthday this year. An elderly sheriff, Will Kane, marries a priggish beauty, Amy, on the day of his retirement but his marital plans are overturned by news that a dangerous convict, Frank Miller, has been released from jail and hopes to shoot Will dead.

Amy is a devout Quaker and she grumbles bitterly as Will cancels their honeymoon and heads back to town to deal with the evil Frank. But Frank is not the brightest criminal in New Mexico. News of his plans have spread and everyone knows that he’ll show up at midday aboard the express train. This gives Will ample time – an hour and three quarters, that is – to prepare a counterattack by visiting his old friends and recruiting a posse.

A vintage clock hangs over the stage with its hands set at 10.15 a.m. as the show begins, so the audience can watch the minutes drag past. Will sets off on his recruitment drive which gives him a chance to discuss his personal backstory and to reflect on the traumatic boyhood experience that instilled in him a lifelong zeal for justice. This is interesting but not dramatic. He has a nice long........

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