Literature is littered with stories of love across the divide - whether class, family or racial.

From Cinderella and her Prince Charming to Romeo and Juliet, the eternal theme of love conquers all is absolute.

It's been done in so many guises, so it should be no surprise that students from Pembrokeshire College's Merlin Theatre Company have got in on the act too. Their latest offering is Happy End, another Bertoldt Brecht/Kurt Weill musical, following last year's successful production of the Threepenny Opera.

It's a little known piece, probably because of its echoes of other shows; notably the exceedingly-popular Guys n' Dolls. Swap Damon Runyon's Sky Masterson and Miss Sarah for Bill Cracker and Hallelujah Lil and the similarities are obvious. Director Simon Haslam plumped for the play for many reasons, not least of which is its relative anonymity, giving the young cast a chance to interpret characters for themselves, and not rely on preconceived ideals from previous performers.

A powerful, tragi-comedy, interspersed with fine singing performances, with excellent character parts, the first two-thirds of the play are an actor's dream, but the show's ending is contrived and unsatisfactory, so all credit to the young cast for managing to retain energy and credibility in the face of its sugary and frankly out-of-character conclusion.

There were some thumping great performances, Lady in Grey - Susie Shules; The Governor - Emily Nicholls; Bill Cracker - Guy Smallwood, Hallelujah Lil - Lillian Williams; and gangsters, Mammy - Kris Sanders; Reverend - Ben Fawcett; Babyface - Amy Lewis and Professor - Chris Webster-Smith, but smaller, character parts from Hannah Williams as the cop; Rhiannon Jones as Tightlips; Laura Turner as Mariam; Kelly Williams as Major Stone; the excellent Endaf Williams as Hannibal; and Bobbi Wheelhouse, Becky Regan and Jake Cawkwell as the salvationists plus chorus members Daniella Colella, Sammie Corbin and Serena Leigh, meant, as the director intended, the sum of the parts was so much greater than the whole.

Gangster-ridden Chicago was evocatively recreated with music, lighting and a versatile set, and further enhanced by ersatz film clips cleverly cut in to progress the script.

The show is one of three productions that students studying performing arts put on each year - productions designed to test not only their acting but their all-round production skills, and, as ever, they have produced a slick, theatre-going experience that far belies its amateur status. The show runs until Saturday, tickets from the college on 01437 765247.

FIONA PHILLIPS