IT was a production that offered all the enjoyable features of the panto – the likeable hero and heroine, the comic sidekick, the dame, the delightful cow, lots of songs and dances, audience participation and physical comedy.

It was a nimble, nicely paced show with attractive costumes, a good use of lighting, well chosen songs and a sharp and funny script by Alan Frayn.

At its heart were the performances and the production was well served by its players. Dan Kent (Jack) had exactly the right confident charm for the panto lead and worked well with Lizzie Diaper (Princess Primrose).

Lewis Philpott was great fun as Dame Dottie Dimple and played the role and the humour to perfection. However, the real revelation was Ollie Uglow as Simple Simon.

Tall, lanky, with seemingly rubber limbs, he exuded natural comic talent, genial personality and had an enviable rapport with the audience.

This was a pantomime as it should be.