ARTHUR Miller, Lorraine Hansberry, Eugene O'Neill - whenever I see a play of theirs I always feel like I've lived every minute of the joy and anguish of their characters.

It's impossible to remain immune from the intensity of their writing, making for an uplifting and yet emotionally draining experience.

Now I'm going to add Tennessee Williams to the list, after sitting through his masterpiece, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, at the Royal Exchange Theatre.

Somehow, Williams makes you care deeply about the leading characters, even though they're not particularly sympathetic.

Brick, consumed by resentment and with his dubious sexuality and more booze inside him than your average off-licence, treats his wife like dirt. Although the reason for his behaviour is revealed as the play progresses.

You can't help feeling for his spouse, the childless Maggie (Mariah Gale) and for champion boozer Brick (Charles Aitken), trapped in their sham of a marriage.

Aitken gives everything in the role and the heated exchanges between him and his snarling father, known only by his nickname, Big Daddy, are moving and uncomfortably compelling.

Daragh O'Malley, who plays the armour plated patriarch, is a formidable adversary when it comes to verbal sparring.

If O'Malley catches your eye after one of his character's explosive rants, I guarantee your stomach will turn over. Mine did, several times.

However, I never really understood his contempt for his wife who's called, yes, you guessed it, Big Mama. She's fussy and intrusive and yet dotes on this snarling patriarch.

They say love is blind. Kim Creswell excels in the role, complete with her character's bird's nest hairdo and quirky glasses.

But Big Daddy seems to hate everybody, even directing his anger at the children in the house, whose only 'crime' seems to be walking in on the grown ups at inappropriate times. But the youngsters are an antidote to the unbridled misery of the adult guests.

The play brings us to a family gathering, it's Big Daddy's 65th birthday and he's dying of cancer. Everyone is determined to put a brave face on proceedings, but you can't help feeling they're really there to secure a slice of his estate.

Gooper, Brick's brother who resents the fact that the role of family favourite has been filled by Brick, remains business like throughout the play.

Director James Dacre ensures the time flies and not a word of Williams' often exquisite dialogue is missed. Mike Britton's sumptuous set is the finishing touch to a memorable evening's theatre. Make sure you don't miss this production, a play for grown-ups.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is on at the Royal Exchange until November 29. The box office is on 0161 833 9833.

RICK BOWEN