It is all too easy not to take soap actors seriously but the performances from two such talents in Daisy Miller force us to think again.

Better known as Vicki Fowler in EastEnders, Scarlett Johnson takes on the lead role of 19-year-old American Daisy Miller, whose innocence, straight-talking and passion for life sparks controversy among the stuffy upper-classes of the Continent during her travels in Europe.

Even her hard-to-please TV gran Pauline Fowler would be impressed.

At Lake Geneva she meets young travel writer Frederick Winterbourne, played by Richard Grieve, who will be familiar to older Neighbours and Home And Away fans, having flitted between the two in the Nineties.

Both give strong, authentic performances as Daisy sends Winterbourne into a spin with her warm approaches, making him promise to meet her later in Rome.

But his hopes for their reunion go awry once he arrives in Italy because Daisy, a self-confessed cfearful, frightful flirt" with little care for what others think about her number of gentlemen friends, will not stop meeting the charismatic Italian lawyer Mr Giovanelli.

For all her optimism the consequences finally catch up with Daisy, ending in a tragedy which will haunt Mr Winterbourne for the rest of his life.

This beautiful production, with stunning costumes and simplistic yet effective stage sets, is the first ever staging of Henry James's novel, directed by the Olivier and BAFTA-winner Christopher Morahan.

It is Johnson's UK touring debut and her performance arguably upstages some of the other stars, including Alfie and Shirley Valentine favourite Shirley Anne Field who, despite playing a stiff character, is just too wooden.

Bread actress Jean Boht demands a stage presence all of her own as Winterbourne's Aunt and the fact her accent often slips back to the likes of Mrs Boswell is of little consequence. The possibility she might give up her eloquent indictments of Daisy to simply scream "she is a tart" is perversely pleasing.

All in all, Dawn Keeler's adaptation provides the perfect setting for Johnson - and Grieve - to prove their worth.

Shows until Saturday, September 10. Starts at 7.45pm, Thurs & Sat mats 2.30pm. Tickets cost £16-£24, call 08700 606650.