In 1856, Martha Brown, known as the "Marshwood murderess"‚ was the last woman to be publically hanged in Dorset, after being convicted of killing her much younger husband. Her execution, outside Dorchester prison, was witnessed by the 16-year-old Thomas Hardy, who climbed a tree to get a better view and wrote about the experience many years later. Martha is said to have provided some inspiration for Tess of the D'Urbervilles.

The spirit of Tess hovers over Angel Exit Theatre's fictionalised retelling of Martha's story, a lively, rough-and-ready play with songs and accordion and fiddle accompaniment that feels as if it would sit rather more comfortably in village halls or even pubs than in the more formal setting of a theatre.

Martha begins as a milkmaid longing for music, stories and adventure, but settles for marriage to an old farmer who "smells of meat", and quickly discovers that adventure, choices and happiness are in short supply. Martha's own narrative takes a tragic turn when, aged 40, she meets farm-hand John Brown, who takes a shine to her – or possibly to her savings. Like Martha he wants more out of life.

There are some lovely things here. Lynne Forbes's Martha is as grave as a medieval Madonna, and she is surrounded by a chorus with white faces and dark eyes that make them look like walking corpses. A piece of kneaded dough suddenly becomes a baby. A silk dress twists like a body on a gibbet. But the show is long and uneven. There is far too much scenery, which slows the action and compromises the stagecraft as furniture is moved around. And the storytelling offers plenty of narrative yet leaves the characters underdeveloped. It's a quietly enjoyable evening, but Angel Exit never persuade that they have an urgent need to tell this particular story – apart from its Hardy connection.

• At Rondo theatre, Bath, on 28 May. Box office: 01225 463 362. Then touring to 21 June. Tour website.